Beneath The Mask.

ir as she stared at the cracked ceiling. Her entire life h

like selli

any expens

her mind like a haunting m

money. That w

eone like that? Pretend to be a

rply, raking a h

ing a lie around her. And there was something about Elena Lauren

nging broke

her old flip phone on the

ed as she snatch

ter's condition is stable for now, but the doctors insist on start

her eyes shu

cent of the

ach drop. She didn't hav

icult," the nurse continued

even though they couldn't s

ne wen

the phone to her l

s no ot

ng herself thinkin

would give El

-

t Night –

with perfume and alcohol. Kara moved behi

then, she fe

y looked up, he

a La

VIP lounge,

even trying

ng a drink in her hand, completely at ea

ly, wiping her ha

rning

d strode toward the VIP section, weaving through t

aze never

na lifted a brow. "I was beginni

her arms. "I

, resting her elbows

hated this. Hated how much p

to keep her voice stead

widened. "I'

She needed to be

ed, ignoring the absurdity of the words com

her head, amu

forcing herse

nnecessary touching. And

her head. "You're adorable if you

ed. "This is

with something unreadable. "But if you're going to convince my f

throa

pens if my mother wants to see how much I 'love' my boyfr

pulse

n h

eople-how to test their limits a

ldn't afford

yes with determination. "We'll make

ment. Then, with a small, knowi

ea

tated. Th

r hand and cl

touched, a strange heat

dened. "Welcome