His Price, Her Fate

oland – B

counter, holding a

omers came and went. Bu

ad tried texting. Sh

Her chest felt tight. "She's fine," she whispe

head said something el

ink like that. She's not dead. She's ju

re

rand – Le

a book. Her legs were covered by a silk gown.

room was quiet. B

. She didn't see him right away. She t

t. His eyes stayed on her. Le

She didn't look away." Wha

at first. Then he sai

ing. Her fingers grip

teps forward. S

uching her. Just standing

smiled a little. "Tell me I'm

came out. She

He chuckled, low and quiet,

eft.She told herself it didn't mea

Z – Warsa

equin. Her hands shook. The stor

. She checked her phone again. Still nothing. Th

re a black coat. Zuza's eye

round the shop, touching a dress. Zuza ste

e said, "I'm pulling my

at the dresses again. "There's no p

t speak. Viktor turned and left.

dress. Tears ran down her face. "Where are you,

Seven Year

dom jobs just to buy food. People

r fabric scraps near a store. H

elt soft. Maybe she could clean it

od there. She wore a warm c

fabric. "Silk," she said. "Good choice

the woman asked. "I sew,"

t, but the stitching was neat. The woman looked at it. Then at he

Lena's was warm.Lena stood up. "

houldn't be wasted." Zuza stood. Sh

follow

Day – Bo

And everything w

a Estate

on the phone. "I want this finished

in. Her fists were clenched. "Don't y

d of what?""This. Power. Ord

asked, "Don't you miss her?

o humor in it."Our?" Anne stepp

"You still tell yo

kto

s bad choices. I should ha

ed at her. "You still believe that?" The

d still.

known. And now

red one na

Years Ago, Zi

ices, Anne stood by a window with a d

aw someone

ma

he turned away fast and walked in

he froze. "It's been a

ed. Then said, "Neither should you." Anne tur

" she said. He

es

night, Anne sat in her room

yed in her head. "You st

sk. An old letter la

the bottom

k Ca

red over it. Her

t this secr

r had alw

Lena i