o fury in a heartbeat. "Maria? W

y behind her, her ey

ew. "The vial," I said, my voice shaking but

ve sound. "That folk nonsense? Yo

d, taking a step forward. "Plea

to his mistress. "Her connections got me the best surgeo

e, cracking with desperation. "I am

lf," he sneered. "And you'r

atio, through the lavish living room, and into his home office. The other guests averted

American flag hung on the wall behind his

e inches from mine. "This 'gift' of yours? You're nothing. A r

dge of his mahogany desk. The pain was sharp, but

on me, his eyes wild. He grabbed my hair, yanking m

al need to humiliate me, to shatter any illusion I had of my own worth. He wanted

smoothed his suit jacket. He looked down at

escension. "I'll go to the hospital. For one

g. He spun the dial, opened it, and pulled out a s

me, dangling it be

e your mag

y fingers were just about to close aro