a waiter. She plastered on a flawless, high-societ

inger tapped a rapid, silent rhythm against the leather of her clutch bag. She too

th artificial sweetness. Her eyes, however, scanned Corinne

to shake. A violent, uncontrolled tremor. A few drops of the pale

pure contempt lit up her eyes. She sat down right

leaning in close. "Why on earth are you here with J

lashes hid the absolute zero temperatur

e a choice. He off

to what? Six years ago, you left this city

ed, turning rapid and shallow. She acted exactly like

w to her lap. She twisted her fingers together until the knuckles turned

nsion in her own spine melted away. The warine

nne stammered, her chest heaving. "Dr. Ev

velina raise

er eyes. "I have nightmares. Every night. He told me I

graveyard for Corinne. It was a pathetic excuse.

ers. Beneath the guise of comfort, Evelina pressed down hard. Her sha

fted her head. A single tear spilled over her lower lid and track

ser, her lips brus

etely gone from her voice. "If you try to play the victim wi

ace. She nodded frantically, her chi

oked down at the deep, red half-moon indentat

a shadow fell over them. Corwin appear

sness vanished, replaced by angelic concern. She

I'm here for you. We'll g

ed vision. She saw Corwin. She violently flinch

nagged on Corinne's wet face and trembling shoulder

word of comfort. He turned his back on h

iancée a fr

tears kept falling, but the corners of her mouth twitched. A m

her arm through his. Before they turned the corner, Evelina

ace with the back of her hand. She opened her clutch and pulled out her pho

racker initiated on the ta

confirmation pin

She downed the liquid in one smooth swallow. Her eyes w

cing laugh of Candi Hodges echoed off the walls. The