wad of cash from her purse and tossed it to the man who

walked away, the center of attention once more. The crowd

en woman bleeding on the floor among the

sterile smell of a hospital. A cleaner had f

ic. It took them hours to pull all the cactus spines f

ce report," the nurse said gent

my head, too

of pity. "Well, there's something else

hung in

gna

ice a hollow echo. A wave of

We' d even picked out names. A boy would be L

, soul-crushing sadness. This child was conceived from a lie, a produ

nfirmed, looking at her chart. "Do y

ather is dead." I looked down at my

led with sympathy, b

, the door to

s Ber

t have come straight from the gala after-party. He looke

ing about you being pregnant?"

rifying. I saw the rose tattoo peeking out from

I told you, I only touched you that one time after

ll peddlin

him to me, her brow

uickly, forcing the wo

She gave Bernard a disgusted look and quietl

lief escaping his lips. The last thin

olding a manila folder. He

a clause that you will not press charges or speak a word of what

out, along with the legal document. A single, hot tear

end of a project. He'd pulled me into his arms and made love to me with a desperate, almost violent passion. I had thought it was because he missed me. Now I kne

arp it felt like I

his voice clipped and business-like. "Consider it co

ng, for the humiliation, for destr

rning, Addison. Don't try anything. I kno

confused. "What ar

ur father's things to pay my medical bills, you hounded the pawn shop

's memory into evidence of me being some kind of vindictive shrew. The love and sacrif

l. I would take his money. I would sign his paper. And then I would di

ard," I said, my voice devoid

no longer loved him, he no longer h

my name o

ression. For a moment, a strange thought crossed his mind, the thought of keeping me by his sid