na

oney. It was a place I had walked past a thousand ti

gaze over my worn black

.. more suitable?" she asked, h

of black dresses. I bypassed the gre

. It was silk. It was backless. It was the kind of dre

s one," I said,

ill wear

against my skin like cool water. I had left the black dress in

ed. I felt

ath the new backpack I had bought him with the last

look pretty

you,

ner, and the worl

ere coming out o

sto

ing on the way the cream silk clung to my hips. He looked like h

" he wh

er eyes narrowing wi

she hissed. "You are a w

d at the diamond bracele

period is o

He looked at Leo. He

pocket and pulled ou

o thrust it at Leo. "Buy

e money. Then he

k, pressing his bo

aid, his voice small but

nd froze i

ed. The old authority leaked into

" I

n him. I was weaker than him. But in that

ey, Dante. We

but he grabbed my arm. His

ake, Elena. You are vu

t his hand

go,"

leaning in close. "Wh

ngine cut through th

he curb, sleek and menacin

t that cost more than my life. His eyes were like obsidian, cold a

Elena?" his voice was

burned him. He took a step bac

mered. "I was just... spea

re didn

ke you were b

sir.

pt his gaze

in, E

It was a command. Bu

fear in his eyes. He was a So

ar door. I hel

look back

seat next to the most da

Salvato

I realized I had just tr

regret it f