sie

uld have ag

needed to show my face, to prove to this cit

ek, severe, and bound tight agai

ove the noise of the streets. The city lights shi

eld the microphone with a casua

upport of my family," he said, his voice smooth

here. She bl

applaude

tightened his jaw, but he smoothed it over instantly,

strode toward me. The crowd p

gh for the surrounding circles to

reached into his pocket and

said. "A token of appreciation

coin. It was a cheap piece of brass, stamped with the

or your serv

treating me like a fired employee

n, feeling the bloo

I asked, my voic

said, his eyes glac

, marking her territory. She

aid, her voice high and

scanning my body with del

sweetie," she sai

Craig warn

to know her place. Look at her. She's pathetic.

on my skin, prickling like heat rash. They w

the e

oks de

efused to sig

me. "I'm here because I built the architecture for

It was a sharp

"Craig did all the work. Y

ssive diamond ring sparkled on

partner gets," she sa

y personal space. She lowered

he hissed. "Good choice. We wouldn

f, the rage, the humiliation-it all b

the coin out of Craig's hand. It clattered ont

composure shattering. "You told

face d

cene," he said thr

bling finger at Chanel. "You stole my husband.

now what I was going to do. Maybe s

ved. He

us, shielding her.

ac

the music. It cracked thro

cheek burned as if branded. I

neven pavers, and gravity took over. I fell hard onto

owd went silent. The air

r me. His hand was still raised. He

her," he snarled. He

king. She looked like a cat t

d at a waiter. "Remove this

d in time with my pulse. My heart w

ont of everyone. To

't work. The humiliation was a physi

me. He put his arm around

ests, slipping back into the role of the charming hos

e there.

pin. The lights blurre

ssi

ut throug

e, shoving through the crowd of g

His expensive suit hit the dir

me," he said. His

uch me. He hovered, his hands tr

o say, but it came ou

ng," he said,

e saw the brass coi

zed it in his fist until

kill him," E

he darkness was bet