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needles. A deafening crash of a live symphony orchestra slamme
er chest heaved as if she'd just broken the su
expecting the warm, sticky pool of her own blood. She expected the tea
met cool, smooth silk.
hurt, each beat a sharp ach
forced herself upright. Her legs felt like lea
the massive go
f the jagged, puckered scar that had sat on her left cheek for five years. The scar carved by
ght and locked
oss
st the heavy dressing room door. The
Open up,
ipping with that familiar, sickenin
ake friendship. The orchestrated betrayal. The ruined face. And then the cold barrel of a gun
rebirth and left behind nothing but cold, clear murderous intent. Her fingers fisted into t
vanity. The screen lit, cold bl
hite numbers confir
ago. The day of he
, the brass fixture jerking back
t leave now, you'll be trapped!" Katelyn hissed
e coating her tongue. She made the muscles in her face go slack,
pet in bare feet, silent,
an in the hallway. Flat. C
designer heels clicked sharply on the hardwood. The rehear
isted into a mask of exaggerated panic-brows d
erfectly manicured hand r
hifted her weight, turnin
and grabbed
thered it with a harsh whisper. "If we don't move this second, security
on?" Gem
ed body shielding hers, the heat of the blast, his weight crushing her down, the copp
, a dark, mocking amusement threading
es. "Because of Jair! He's freezing out there for you. Standing
viving the underground cut straight through the fake tears and locked onto the raw, nake
by two earpiece-wearing guards with shoulders like refrigerators, marched t
refully applied foundation. She reached out again, both hands this
's wrist like a steel vice. She pressed her thumb into th
umbing pain shot up her arm from wrist to sh
o women with deep suspicion, his bushy gray brows pulling together. "
ce of a flower opening. She curved her lips into the flawless, empty smi
she said smoothly, voice dri
nsion, and turned on his heel. The guards followed in per
aging the angry marks blooming there. "Are you out of your mind?" she hissed
the expensive perfume layered over the sharp stench of f
they belong. The light doesn't suit them," Gemma
soft thud, the floral pattern crinkling behind her. A cold sweat br
esting beside her discarded hairbrush. The navy blue case was embossed with a famous jeweler's crest in faded gold
neck, the clasp clicking shut with cold finality. The diamonds settled perfectly over the small mol
the mirror was n
a pre
might as well have been a minefield. She watched the prey she had spent years grooming-years of whispered manipulations and c
cent. She downed the burning alcohol in one continuous swallow, letting it sear her throat and burn
t down an
ngle glance. Not a flicker of recognition. Not a whisper of acknowledgment. She headed straight down the corridor
e grand hall, amplified by speakers hidden in the crown m
nticipation. Glasses cl
d, its brass handle gleaming under the wall sconces.
g to take ev
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