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that the plastic stick tapped agai
id pink
w burning her throat. Her left hand flew to her flat stomach, pressing hard against the thin cotto
d through the thin wooden door, accompanied by the heavy
r slick fingers struggling to grip it. She unrolled a long strip of scratchy toilet pape
the small trash can, burying it under cr
heeks, and took a shuddering breath. Her fingers were stil
the door open, it was
arly knocking Debora into the bathtub. Marlene's eyes, lined w
convict living under my roof. You br
She turned her body sideways, trying to squeeze p
e kicked the small trash can with her heavy boot. The plastic bin tipped over, spilling its contents across the scuffed tiles. Ami
. She lunged forward, but
ripped the toilet paper away. The two pink li
. Marlene's face morphed from confusion to
ne's throat. Her hand shot out, her
the sharp pain radiat
r knees hitting the scuffed hardwood floor of the hallway. Marlene didn't sto
de the frayed sofa, her shoulder
pushed himself out of his recliner, his bushy eye
tained coffee table. "Your precious charity case
d the room in three heavy strides and stood over De
er her. "Who is the bastard? You listen to me. You get rid o
arms wrapping tightly around her stomach. If they kicked her out, she would have no regi
a whispered, her voice shaking but
ne raised her hand, her palm
hut, her muscles locking a
from the doorbell s
d under his breath, turning away from De
her salesman," Burt muttered,
yes, her breath cat
He wore a dark, tailored suit that looked expensive but lacked any flashy logos. His fa
ting through the dim living room to lock directly
ook at him. His deep, gravelly voice resonated through the
that child. And I am
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