t up in dazzling brilliance. Skysc

click-

red-soled echoed dow

keypad of the penthouse's glass door,

e

or sli

ile curled at the cor

nt was dim,

still cle

th clothing-a lace-edged La Perla bra, this season's Oscar de l

ffled gasps of a woman, the low groans of a man, a

h a single motion, she

of debauchery-sweat, perfume

t slightly in distaste, then looked up with i

aught re

lia could alm

would at least wait until after the en

g her a live performa

self, his face pale. "It's-it's not wha

ze flicking to his exposed thighs. "Too drunk to think straight but s

ec

ut before you suffocate under there. After al

pale, but she

ecilia's gaze with shameless confi

d. "playing the loyal sister while snea

what would you have? I'm just as pretty as you, just as educated. The only differenc

e you should go KILL YOURSELF NOW and try again

ps twist

ly. "I'm not fighting you for him. God, lo

ed lightly on

, he's yo

closed the do

ity!" Gia shouted, hurl

her smile never slipping. She steppe

in her bag. Then

window, and let the glittering l

e gas. No

oastal highway, its engine screaming

r all, is

r, someone else

Ceci

n the whole damn t

*

lready late, Cecilia

a, standing alone in the sea breeze, h

ble blades, each gust stinging her skin, mak

the lone star still clinging to the dark

ou're

knew Ceci

drank too much, cursed too loud, and lived i

ragged back home and locked away

her long gone. And a pack of vultures circling t

hah

ken, breathless. Her laughter twisted her fac

y believed Ro

stoop so low as to sleep with her own cous

he illusio

e. Just another corporate merger, dr

ophy wife with the

king it might finally ea

gement was probably

ntere

z,

buzzing insistently ag

look to know who

ng

d the phone still spinning and vibrating

hesitation, she hur

un

whole, ripples diss

*

in M

ialed is unavailable.

ce looped for t

UN

phone onto the mahogany de

her manicured fingers tightening around her c

ed wood making his associates stiffen. "Find her. I don't care if you have to

mpagne bubbles. "Honey, she's a

itened around t

d be