by Katherine's ragged breathing. Gus didn't move. He kep

le tear track down her cheek and drip onto her collarb

he wall. He reached into the pocket of his dress

eside her head. The sound cracke

in horror. She looked at the checkbook

p off a silver pen. He spat the c

t under

e only he used when he wanted to be condescending. "Services re

knees buckled, and she slid down the wall an inch

short, sharp laugh. "What do you w

she whisper

tip of the pen to the paper. "Five thousand? T

e pen scratching against the paper was violent, aggressive. He rippe

ld. He jammed the piece of paper into he

t," he

check fluttered to the dirty

enough? That's more than y

coalesced into a blinding, white-hot anger. She wasn't a whore. She wasn't a

ped to h

ling. "Finally showing your

up, her legs shaking but holding her

" she said. Her voic

eck in half. Th

l like confett

For a second, his mask slipped. His eyes widened, and there

as it came, replaced by t

his shirt. He adjusted his cuff, regaini

I hope that nobility pays y

walked away, down the dark

Katherine screamed at his back. "

oulders were rigid, the muscles of his bac

id, his voice low and final,

ylight cut into the corridor, blinding Kathe

round herself, burying her face in her knees. Her hand found a piece of the torn che