red slowly fro

d, prescribed rest,

.. solicitous, i

, though slightly l

with news of Marcus Thorne and h

ran glowi

about Izzy' s bravery, her

unwavering d

from the staff, saw the hea

as a fresh twi

orgotten wife

, was moving heaven

specialists

ng to be built onto the house, just f

or city development project because the co

es, this public di

milar things he had d

was wo

was "sav

was a bi

rity gala w

of Isabel

dation in her name, dedicated

Marcus Thor

event of

s expected

portive, albeit

in a simpl

lain wedding band. A hab

even more opulent

as the

mering gold, her dark h

ne, but she carried

her side, beam

hrough the thro

ed her c

pering in her ear,

iet corner, a glass of wa

ke a ghost

isi

ele

sper nearby. "She used to be the one

and to hear her name mentioned with pity.

or fl

e room, must have

s scanned the crowd, landing

ile va

rd look re

ng to one of hi

n were discreetly, but firml

o one was to speak of Eleanor'

s present.

ill despite the w

absolute. His

bloodcurdl

c er

en died, plunging the ba

uttered on, casting

nce, a wave of dark

gear, faces ob

ed automat

!" a harsh v

another

t different. More org

was clear:

tail, a man named Pete

, we need to

er her towards

e spreading out, cutt

, deafening in t

amed, dived

allen table as a shield, a pistol a

ered beh

professionals. They

cus pinned down, broke

peed, not towards Marcus

sion? A

anor behind him, dr

y ba

cker did

sed hi

e attacker stumble

ted, falling

or sc

r was almos

, cold and empty

eemed

hout her name, a s

anor

to her, but two other

arm, trying to drag him

d a c

was directly in th

o was pulling hi

nor' s for a frac

Indec

, half-shielding Izzy, and di

hose

doned E

led his rifle at

fl

ring

kne

eard was Marcus' s f

EAN