bbing pain in her fractured ribs still flared with every deep brea
was pale, but her eyes were sharp and hard. She thought about t
abbed her long, dark hair in one hand. Without blinking, she sliced the blades th
rying a tray of breakfast. She saw the
calm. She looked at the housekeeper and sai
lena Valenzuela." She said she was reclaiming her birthright and wo
eeded to leave the apartment. She nee
him, he immediately dispatched two plainclothes sec
nd a simple black trench coat. She walked
used to visit with her mother. The saleswoma
er polite smile vanished. She looked Evelena up a
ward a rack in the center of the store. She reac
ther hand shot out and yanked the dress aw
d out from behind the rack. She was wearing a tight designer dr
e laughed louder. She told Evelena she looke
eakness. She did not look away. She did not shrink back. She s
that look. She wanted to humiliate her. She rais
they let a known thief into the store. She said
d. They turned around and started whispering.
ally at Felicia. Then she turned to Evelena and h
ossed her arms over her chest. She took one
cia that no matter how much expensive trash she wore,
s widened in fury. She raised her hand an
he agonizing flare of pain shooting through her own broken ribs. She squeezed hard a
Her expensive leather handbag dropped to the f
nch coat pocket. She pulled out a solid black metal card. She slammed
to her hand before she left. It bore the crest
e. Her knees actually buckled. She knew exactly what that card me
lack card. They gasped. The looks of disgu
the black card. She screamed that it was impossi
e threw it directly into Felicia's face. She told the salesw
lked toward the exit, her bac
haking finger at Evelena's back. She screamed that she
urned her head. She looked at Felicia and
dyguards fell into step behind her, leaving Fe
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