NA'S

e mo

nths since they had taken

le of the street, crying like the worl

ter that night. Legal consultations,

he business had already gone under a year ago due to losses, but my father had ju

everythin

e was some lowlife criminal. What little friends he had left d

lessly as they tossed around allegations of embezzlement

hey d

er was

man be

r Dev

conferences and from lawyers who claimed to have our best interests at heart. "The Dev

st a singular accusation, and a stroke of his pen. The man hadn't even come

eve in justice

lieved in

s old car. I worked double shifts at a café in the mornings and a delivery app at night and I still worked

he could. Always

ding on,

so so

te your li

nothing left to waste. I h

ng, just staring at the ceiling when my ph

t, but something i

we need to meet. Discretion required. Come

he message. T

ation. Just a loca

ing to poke at my misery. But something about

hone

hing left

nt world, a world I once belonged t

ers and watched the numbers climb till I reached

rt pounding as I

n stood near the window. Hoo

i

s to feel it-the same quiet domi

before I cou

urn. "Close

di

ll covered most of his face. All I could see was

late."

own at my

nd who sets a meetin

you've already wasted t

n't be s

r," I said, arms crossed. Annoyan

c

ow

hat makes evidence disappear

hy would you help me?

et's just say... I have my own reasons. But it's n

way he said that.

dn't

rry

fr

laughed although it wasn't genuine

ha

rry me. On paper,

stepping back. "That's ins

ving you a way to free him. Just one condition. You wear a ring. T

mmitment. One year. I take care of your fat

ot hire an actress or someone d

not your

if I do this-if I sign something like t

A way to ruin the Devereuxs i

opped m

know about th

dn't

hem, are you?" I a

ou Selena. I only r

ow me yo

t. "I can't do that. I li

but I'm supposed to get ma

oke was starting to drive me crazy. But I

re se

es

ar my father

said, handing me a bl

ng spelled out, even the nondisclosure clause.

ds tre

ison uniform. The way he told me not to move on-

ble by my right an

ng a deal with the devil?" I

e as he said, "