pain in her heart was soon overshadowed by a different kind of fear

hed back to Martha's apartment to get some money

rtha sneered, blocking the door. "Sti

her," Ava said, her voice

, a harsh, ugly sound. "That old h

fire in Ava. "Don't you

hit the plaster with a sickening thud. Pain exploded behind her eyes, but all s

apartment, the door was slightly ajar.

he door open

a pool of her own blood. Her eyes were c

r side, her hands shaking so b

e ICU. Ava was left alone in the hallway, her grandmother's bloodstains on her dress, her face streaked with tear

ak-in gone wrong. They asked if Rose had any enemies. Av

was a lawyer. The best lawy

the day. He saw her battered appearance, her tear-stai

I told

ting him off. "She's in the ICU. Someone a

r cheap, blood-stained clothes. A cynical smile touch

in the face. It was a

the last of her pride crum

"I'm sorry about your grandmother. But I'm not t

ad been haunting her, a desperate, hypothetical plea. "Liam... if

oe's mother. She's my future mother-in-

told her everything she needed to know. In his w