an was all charm

ning in Culver City. Lots o

friends, these sleek, predator

licker in their eyes before turning back t

candy. The lat

so transp

urant in Beverly Hills, Ethan was talkin

ten, nodding in al

rking guy named Chad, leaned in. "Wha

he condescens

il," I said, keep

fessed to picking pockets. "Tough gig.

me. "She's with me now.

elt differe

yself to th

The one who'd juggled two jobs while still in high school to keep the ligh

beauty once, she always said. Before life, and my

of pride and resentment in her eyes. "You

o pawn her kids' belong

n't the figh

was quiet

of being an engineer. For my little sister, Sofia

crumbling house with a mothe

every week, but it

a project" – th

thes or the fancy dinner

em. For a way o

e me crash and burn a

e me broken, hum

or her and her bo

ched m

t they were

a the stakes I

water on my face

table, a dazzling s

that," I sa

searched mine

picking up my champagne f

relieved.

humiliation

ust Brittan

s min

pay. Not in cash. That

ir game and turn

y, their connectio

alized what was happeni

st about survi

ilding an empir

emp

rul