n in his hand, carefully helping Felicie

ee?" he asked, his voice

e pouted, leaning on him for sup

hem in every color." He looked up at her, his eyes full of a doting in

er all these years, he still remembered Felicie's favo

," Felicie said, though he

," he said, his voice low. "

d flame. He was trying to rebuild their past, to erase the y

"You two make such a beautiful couple,"

, happy smile that reached his eyes. It was a smile

rm securely around her waist. The ge

's chest. She felt like an intruder, a ghost w

of Felicie's happy laughter following her. She did

city's elite. Delma arrived alone. She saw Kobe immediately, standing at the center of a circle of

He excused himself and walked toward a group of business partners, motioning for Felicie to ente

ne? She was long past cari

. A portly businessman, a major competitor of the Kid

with a lecherous smile. "An

the glass from the man's hand. "Felicie doesn't drink," he s

blood

pping forward instinctively.

ampagne toast, and despite his protests, she had forced a glass into his hand. He had taken a single sip and collapsed, his th

s honor, to prove his devotion, Kobe lifted the

es, a wave of sickn

g rebuffed, began to insult Felicie. "Everyone knows what you are," he s

uch a situation with a cold, cutting remark and a quie

fferent. This w

man, his fist connecting with a sickening

cried, rushing for

ackward, her heel catching on the carpet, and fell hard t

ning blows down on the businessman, his face

ll him!" Felicie sobbed,

ng heavily, and glared down at the bloodied man on the floor. "If you

ed crowd and Delma, alone and forgotten on the ballroom floor. The physical pai