der

aring out over Manhattan like a g

stled and begged.

save for the click of p

la, said from the doorway, holdin

headline sprawled across th

ies Unknown Woman in Private Cer

mir

flame. News anchors scrambled. Gossip blogs spe

y as p

made waves, and she hadn'

all exits. I don't want her

la hesitated. "Are you concerned

er, cool and u

the volume up and let t

social profile, no connections, no bloodline. They were

y they

up the surveillance feed-Paige,

something soft in a world too sharp. Even no

her eyes, the way she didn't tremble when sh

nlike

the f

what my father used to say. "Emp

interfere with strateg

ounded. M

said. "And already

my cuffs. "Bring her t

, wrapped in a robe, hair still damp,

d me," she snapped.

d be private," i said co

ter's nurse called. Paparazzi were camped

will be

king. "Do you always burn do

y when it needs to be remi

rned t

e," i

fr

private. That means standing beside me.

ust been Three weeks and soon they

om fe

n't confuse survival with loyalty, Anderson

sway, her shoulders squared in defiance, a

somethin

cont

alcul

ng much

an

kind i coul

one b

er won't stop the truth from surfacing. It wouldn't keep

es nar