Too Late For Regret: The Lethal Orphan

leg dangling in the humid night air. Her eyes tracked the two secu

op to the oak tree branch below, bypass the camera blind spots, and clear the p

floorboards echoe

. Her spine straightened. The muscles in her th

e housekeeper, pushed the door open. Her knuckles we

pped. She slid off the windowsill, her sneaker

d. She unzipped the garment bag and pulled out a simple, blue

spered. She held out the dress. "I bought it wi

trange flutter hit the back of her ri

as rough against her calloused fingertips. "Than

els pierced the quiet. The sound marched

against the wall. Brandie stood in the doorway, clutchin

cotton dress in Amara's hands. H

othes directly onto Amara's bed. It was a he

nner tonight," Brandie ordered. "Try to lo

g. "Miss Brandie, it is Amara's birthday t

per. "Shut your mouth. I will have my father

She slid perfectly into the blin

bric of the most expensive gown on the bed. She loo

rming on her face. She waited for the compliance she alw

ailed through the air and landed perfectly inside

ess the action. The blood rushed to her face, turning her che

. The air hissed as she swung her

out. She caught Brandie's wrist in mid-a

tly into the ulnar nerve cluster on the inside of B

er knees buckled instantly. She collapsed,

hand, pulled out a lollipop, and popped it into her mouth. Her

ness," Amara said. Her voice was fl

backward onto her hands. She scrambled away, clutching

ked out, tears spilling down her red face. S

picked up the blue cotton dress, held it against her torso, and