inkillers, causing the sharp edges of the room to bleed into on

never

hone: She threatened to stop eating

ly. I simply

assive iron gates groaning shut behind

ound was the low, electric hum of the wine refrigerator from

e, my hand dragging heavily a

oom. I needed to peel off this r

door sto

gned. Boxes were

e room, directing two maids wh

mmanded, pointing a manicured fi

let sl

practic

os of my perfor

asked, my voice raspy fr

spun

teo's crisp white shirts,

d, her eyes wide wit

Matteo t

the room, my heart hammering a pain

guest wing burst,"

ed. Simply

the front of

e until it's fixed. He said you wouldn't m

her smile tu

since you two are

o the signed divorce papers

pierced through the narcoti

ut," I

uel curving of her lips

a," she whispered, steppi

alliance. He stays with me be

ifted over

st the pla

photo of Matteo and m

second, then let

it exploded on the hardwood floo

said, not

ors. So cl

ged f

The adrenaline o

o wipe that smi

bed he

ood-curdling sound that echo

me!" she

she sh

a

very top of the landin

on the edge of

ed bac

glittering like a thousand indifferent eyes. I saw Bianca's face, the muscles around her mouth twitching in a grotesque

!" I sc

as too f

he firs

the s

with a wet, si

of pain and color as I was thrown down the long, curving stairca

at the bottom, a profo

't feel

ng, a single tear escapi

antly, his hands hovering over my

Oh god,

tairs, Bianca began t

e kidnapper hi

ting out a

between the woman screaming ab

looked d

is eyes,

esita

itself; it was the final, crushing blow that severed my spine where