iled, feign

, don't be so preciou

concerns you," I sa

y commanded. "If he wants

al of something so

said, my voice low but firm. "It's not f

n a fraction uncomfortable. The mention of family honor,

lculated expression

so... vintage. It would be a

vanished. Julian's whim

moment. He's the father of my chi

ather' s medal, a symbol of courage,

eact, Julian lun

nd the case slipped, h

out, a piece of the

il! I think I broke my nail!" He glared at me

lian's side, all f

, are you oka

e roughly as she f

cking against the sharp

behind my eyes

s washed

ered the throbb

e damaged Purple Heart

l felt like a wou

y family's legacy, a testament to something real and

t was brok

ght now!" Vicky' s voice was s

g his supposedly injured finger, a

arm trickle down my temple, but her conc

ce of it wa

ght see reason, might recognize

e hollow. "I'm sorry, J

to Vicky countl

. For her moods

It was the apology of a man

ith a glance. "Is that goo

, was already eyeing the med

is a rather unique piece. Perhaps if he cou

ant the broken one. He wa

he words tasting like ash. "I'll find

Away from them. Away

. "Still on about lea

er dramatically. "Oh, Vicky! The pa

to him. "Oh, my god, Julian!

e. "This is you

ecurity! Get down here! Mr. Miller i

security guards appe

my arms. I

right's clinic," Vic

rmatologist, known for expensive

ile clinic, Vicky was

or a bruised finger, a tin

e cut now throbbing insistentl

o a bewildered

n is very sensitive. I need a perfectly match

ian' s barely perceptible sc

that? And Mr. Miller clearly has a

econd. A flicker of something

replaced by her

paramount, Doctor. And

voice softening into

ll patch of skin. For Julian. Fo

as pointles

rt ached for the broken

nted it t

y voice barely a

ce, her promise of Austin.

f skin was being removed from my arm, Juli

d his nose

his skin on me. It's... common. And he' s pr

looked appalled

wever, ju