Faithfully Yours

her's soft wheezing echoed from the bedroom, and the smell of boiled rice lingered in the air like the ghost of bett

ad vanished into hospital bills. Again. The receptionist at St. Jude'

cracked from hours in dishwater. Art school was a dream abandoned years ago, t

vibrated

. She said, Black-tie. Hi

world. But Lena only called when things we

e address."

valet who raised an eyebrow at her scuffed shoes before handing her a tray. Lena had pulled strings to

one look

im. A weight, a stare, like b

rowd. Black suit, no tie, collar undone. He d

es met.

at wound dow

his smile that sh

kitchen. I told you to be careful, but you never listen. I guess Today's your lucky day

Emma sound

ause he pointed at you like

adows and candlelight. A man sat on a leather

're... agreea

just a

u're desperate. Th

hard. "What

velvet and threat. "One night. No rules.

eath c

's in

busi

f I sa

ed. "Yo

s trembled as she stared at the ch

hone

de's H

answ

your mother. You n

hed to her chest, she didn't see the man watching

to his a

She'll come bac