na

us, but the press was alr

off. It had to be Dant

ing strikes. Microphones were

ou steal from

ed her trauma to a

lous of the

the onslaught. "I'm not a thief," I said, my voice

d to a halt at the cur

He looked like a man betrayed. I

ting the sea of reporter

" I s

lapp

he crowd. My head snapped to the side. My cheek burne

ce. "We took you in! We gave you a name! And this is ho

cameras were rolling. Th

ld despite the heat of his words. "You

. I didn't see who threw it.

emple with sha

grey pavement rushed up to meet

sharp smell of

rtbeat. I touched my temple; there was

ly. Just a man sitting in the chair

u

ook up when

ed to the screen. "Frank is furious. The stock prices t

room spinning

my code,"

t me with a bored expression. "Stop being dramatic, Elena.

touched my cheek.

o the bed. He looked annoyed,

you borrowed Sofia's notes. I'll set you up in a nice ap

ess. His secret calculator.

indow. We were on

bed. My leg

you going?"

bathroom

a is waiting for me to take her to di

he bathroom. I

. I opened the window.

passport taped to my thigh under my skirt-a desperate contin

t into the c

bed down, my bare feet hit

l my lungs burned

h the emergency ca

ort," I told

past me. The Russo estat

ll in the rea