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oor of the diner
n. I need air. I need the freezing Philadelphia winter, but tain, thick fingers dig into my bicep. The nails
think you're
d with a force that makes my neck snap. She shoves me into
is cheap cologne hits the back of my throat, thick and n
y, Gracie,"
over my jaw. His fingers press into my cheeks, hard enough to grind m
e trembling. "I am not marrying a ma
nto her oversized purse and pulls out a ring. The diamond is small, clsin right now," Doris hisses, her face turning a mottled red. "Do
ing over my skin. Doris notices the audience and immediately changes her
he diner. "Leaving her poor mother to
ly I think it might crack my sternum. I grip the strap of my canvas bag until my k
of scalding black coffee. She looks nervous, her eyes darting
s i
le against Clarnce's hold. As I twist, I slam my
ips. The m
ee cascades directl
he jumps up, knocking his knees against the table. The booth shakes. Doris shriek
s er
g, spin around, and sprint toward the
ck there!" a cook yel
e heavy metal back door and b
I run until my legs burn and my throat tastes like copper. I sprint past
hest heaving. My hands are shaking so badly I can barely unlock my phone. I open the contr
my tangled hair. A nondescript, black Ford sedan p
ctly styled. He wears a suit that has no visible logos, but the fabric looks expensive. He frowns, hi
e is a low, deep rumble
l open the heavy car door and
lls like expensive cedarwood and clean linen. It does
ront," he says, adjusting his cuff. "I'm only here because my sick
ches. I look
ock, Clarnce is stomping down the sidewalk. His
rearm. His muscles are rock-hard beneath the suit jacket. He flinches, leaning
social security card on you?" I ask, my
t me, his jaw
. If you find me annoying or for any other reason, we can get divorced the day
ssive, angry man scanning the street. He look
seatbelt o
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