gun. Dianna bypassed her usual group of friends, h

ortcut that cut behind the old gymnasium

l of dust and old rain in the air. Her heart hammered agai

s expression as impassive as ever. When he saw her standing there, bl

but she moved, planting her

t talk? Five minutes." Her

ce, ensuring they were alone. Then, his hand sho

at was happening, he was dragging her, his grip

back hit the rough brick with a jolt

side of her head, caging her in. His face was

nt?" he bit out, his voi

er skin, but she held his gaze. Sh

His gaze dropped, sweeping over her from head to toe with a

orn leather wallet. He flipped it open and extracted a thick fol

ey scattered on the grimy pavement

d of all emotion. "How much will it take fo

y, then back up at his fa

ad turned to ice. He thought... he th

t she had replayed in her mind a thousand time

night broke free, hot and silen

her voice cracking with a pain so profound it f

his eyes. A hesitation. A crack in the frozen facade. But it was gone as q

end of his patience. "Fine," h

, jerky movement, cling

utal precision. "I don't remember who you were. I don't care who

misunderstanding. It wasn't a lie. It

e latched onto the one solid fac

ure, unadulterated annoyance. "So what if it w

her ear, his voice dropping to a venomous w

sn't from fear anymore. It was from the agon

at him, one last, long look, memorizing the cruel set of his mouth, the cold emptiness in his ey

she didn't know she ha

nst the pavement, echoing the frantic beat

ckening crack, like bone meeting brick, followed by a low, g

y, lifting the scattered bills and send