bbing pain in her fractured ribs still flared with every deep brea

was pale, but her eyes were sharp and hard. She thought about t

abbed her long, dark hair in one hand. Without blinking, she sliced the blades th

rying a tray of breakfast. She saw the

calm. She looked at the housekeeper and sai

lena Valenzuela." She said she was reclaiming her birthright and wo

eeded to leave the apartment. She nee

him, he immediately dispatched two plainclothes sec

nd a simple black trench coat. She walked

used to visit with her mother. The saleswoma

er polite smile vanished. She looked Evelena up a

ward a rack in the center of the store. She reac

ther hand shot out and yanked the dress aw

d out from behind the rack. She was wearing a tight designer dr

e laughed louder. She told Evelena she looke

eakness. She did not look away. She did not shrink back. She s

that look. She wanted to humiliate her. She rais

they let a known thief into the store. She said

d. They turned around and started whispering.

ally at Felicia. Then she turned to Evelena and h

ossed her arms over her chest. She took one

cia that no matter how much expensive trash she wore,

s widened in fury. She raised her hand an

he agonizing flare of pain shooting through her own broken ribs. She squeezed hard a

Her expensive leather handbag dropped to the f

nch coat pocket. She pulled out a solid black metal card. She slammed

to her hand before she left. It bore the crest

e. Her knees actually buckled. She knew exactly what that card me

lack card. They gasped. The looks of disgu

the black card. She screamed that it was impossi

e threw it directly into Felicia's face. She told the salesw

lked toward the exit, her bac

haking finger at Evelena's back. She screamed that she

urned her head. She looked at Felicia and

dyguards fell into step behind her, leaving Fe