an's
e football field weighed on my c
e to school. Instead, I sh
field, but whenever I found myself alone, all the
of Adrian I had secretly kept on my phone. In t
heard the butler make a respectful announcement from the hallway. "Ms. Ashford,
parents h
htness gripp
pened. The moment I h
all knotted together, leaving
face in the mirror, I drew
ed today, I was determined not t
r, put on something suitable, a
g like the oppressive, tense pl
her, Arthur Shaw. The packs' territorial defense plans and the quart
's mother, Alice Shaw, sat drin
y mother called with a smil
pproaching them and offering a greeting. "
g at me with the same affectionate warmth she always had. "It hasn
tension, expecting them to raise the painful s
inute passed a
business, completely absorbed in their discussion,
em knew about
arents anything about wh
the force of lightning, and I
on could he have f
some small part of him
thought as soon as
giving myself
ep fooling mys
ittle, would he really have humiliated
me, and all that relentless doubt and u
e me a tender smile, gently patting the back of my hand. "We're having an outdoor dinner
ce down the bitterness lodged in my throat. "Certainly
a pillar on the porch, feeling completel
g between his brows. "What's been going on with you over
in her eyes. "Sweetie, do you want m
ted in both my parents' faces brough
courage to explain what had
ad. "No, Mom, Dad. It's just... I think I might have a m
hug. "I'm glad you're all right. Never forget that you're
.
ith a resounding bang. "Vivian! Are you seriously going
, letting the glaring sunligh
. "Get up, Vivi! Someone as gorgeous as you can have any guy you want. Let'
th emptiness, but I couldn't bear to kee
e among them.
"You're absolutely right. Why keep making myself miserable over someone who d
.
own plaza was crowded with p
o boutique, until shopping
the middle of the plaza, I
howing a worldwide advertisement
tailored black suit, and his striking, cool
from the screen with a distan
s Adr
ry advertisement, he looked
I knew so well yet now felt so far away f
t? Come on, hurry!" Celicia cal
r, however, the moving crowd p
d to find her, Celicia was a
the plaza's loud music and all the surrounding n
to call her, only to find that
destrians, I slipped onto a narrow path beside
I found myself in an alley that led to
area, and the tall, dirty brick walls lining
k to the main street when a thunderous engin
und the corner and slid sideways, pinning me
wly sized me up, their looks ope
attoos, aggressively twisted his throttle. Thick, foul-smelling black smoke filled the air as he gave me
ng to be calmer than I was. "Get out
then, men like these wouldn't hav
f remained dormant. As things stood, I couldn'
rcycle closer, sealing off the only way past. "I couldn't care less who you are. Since yo
imbed down from the seat, and stretched hi
back hard against the brickwork. There
loser and closer to me, cold per
for someone, anyone,
the alley, its tires screeching loudly as it made a sharp, co
black leather motorcycle jacket. A completely bl
oad, intimidating outline and felt the unmistakably cold prese
it was actu
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