d arriving, but as she passed the heavy oak door of the smo

as B

smell of expensive cigars and aged

on Vance. Benito's college roommate and lifelong sycophant.

against the wall,

s lazy, slurred slightly. "The engag

how? Picking her up

nst glass. "The Vinson Group can't look like we kick people

ep an eye on her. She knows things. If I cut her loose too fa

c of her sweater. Drug money. He t

Preston asked. "She's

s tone shifting to reverence. "She's t

Ali

It was a cruel,

ose of them quietly. Once the media loses interest, I'll cut her a check

ged

insult. It was a dehumanization. To him, she wasn't a person. She was a pro

hot and stinging. But

out the old smartphone Martha had kep

the reco

eginning, but sh

.. send her somewher

but it was his v

ng and slipped the phon

the conversation

the stairs. Her heart wasn't racing anymore. It was

ed the door-using a chair wedged unde

t herself in

she whispered t

red he

allgowns, just the few old dresses Mar

le, severe. Long sleeves, high neck, floo

rf

s on. It hung a little loose on her emaciated fr

Gala to celebrate. She