nna

in the underground cl

ing rapidly," he whispered, eyes darting toward the corners of the ceiling

knot. There were no tears le

ht hours.

shop in a black-market blind spot. With methodical movements, I pulled my hood lower and removed my diamond wedding ring. I had spent an hour

d face. He was a man who recognized desperation when he saw it. He offer

it," I

phone. Serena had posted on social media: a limited-edition luxury

s all my wedding ring was worth

o Elena's room, t

le sister. Julian was right behind her, his pr

Elena's continued treatment," Serena announc

y do her luxury purchases require no overs

ft. Serena operates under my direct authority." He handed me a humiliating requisition form-the kind given to low-lev

pressing against my abdomen. Di

ch. He was looking through me, al

me. Serena glanced back at me from the doorway, and for one fraction of a second, her mask slippe

ss Julian's cruelty. "Her organs are fail

he operating room for three hours, praying

ack-market medications cannot stop. Her body cannot endure much more trauma. If we don't

s. I had forty-e

nstairs to a restaurant near the clinic to buy th

le. Wine. Laughter. A jarring counterpoint to t

ena sat up straight, feigning professionalism. "We

sition forms to spend h

am rewarding Serena for her exce

y good at keeping me

ed voice: "She's so unstable lately, Julian. I worry about her mental stat

an would have me confined to the estate f

ddenly, fireworks exploded outside the window, painting the dark sky

ireworks," one chuckled. "To

rare blood-diamond necklace. I knew that necklace. I had seen it once in Julian's private vault, and h

f his heirs. Draped around the neck of t

d typed: Thank you for your hard work, Serena. You even get to wear the jewels the Mafia Que

erena's theatrical tears through the receiver. "I didn't

Gianna. You are humiliating a loyal woman who

eds surgery. Twenty-four

ne wen

e had hung up whi

eart monit

into a piercing, horizontal stroke-a line that forever sealed Elena on the