Stolen Fortune, Stolen Heart: The Caged Ward

of lilies and old money that permeated the Pierre Hotel's grand ballroom. She stood in the shadow of a massive marble pillar, her back rigid, her brea

s darted toward the exit signs, glowing red like warning beacons in the sea of black tuxedos and designer gowns. She just needed to mak

moving too fast, his gait uneven. Cinnamon saw it happen a split second before it did. Sh

e impact wasn't hard, but it was precise.

thud that echoed louder than the string quartet playing in the corn

r phone. They scattered across the prist

, heat flooding her cheeks. Her hands

you need a h

need to look up to know that Tiffany Watts was standing over her. She could

tepped forward, her stiletto heel coming

he had brought an audience-three other women from the Junior League, al

any," Cinnamon whispe

e nearby to turn their heads. "You always were so clumsy. It must be hard

anked. Tiffany stumbled slightly

, a scream pierced the air fr

My Pink Star

faltered and stopped. Cinnamon stood up slowly, a cold knot for

in enough diamonds to fund a small country, was clutching

d, pointing a trembling finger

ed. He signaled to two large men in earpieces, who immediately moved to block th

unnaturally well in the sudden silence. "We must find it. For the sake of

a mask of concern that didn't reach her eyes. Cinnamon's hea

s a s

r Mrs. Van der Hoven. The older woman was hyperventilating, her eyes sca

a manicured finger. "She was the only one

ike a tide. Taylor. Ponzi scheme.

pine, smoothing the fabric of her dress. It was a reflex, a despera

e was a hardness in his eyes as he approached her. The crowd parte

. It wasn't a question. "

said, her voice steady despite the tremor in her hands. "Th

ping closer. "If you have nothing to hide, just show th

he saw this... if he thought she was a liability... the

m," Walker said, steppin

ch to her chest, her knuc

and wrenched the bag from her grasp. Cinnamon stumbled back, her sh

ed the bag upside down over the neare

ing sparkle, was a brooch. A massive pink diamond surrounded by smaller white stones,

rowd sucked the oxy

ing forward before being held back by her

e filled with concrete. She looked up, searching for the waiter, for anyone who h

ragic disappointment. "Oh, Cinnamon. The T

the pillar, wishing the stone would open up and swallow her whole. She bit the tip of her tongue, tasting

io. "Call NYPD. We have t

ll, victorious twitch of her

entrance of the ballroom flew open wit

rclap. The murmurs died ins

s stood in

oulders and the lean power of his frame. He didn't look angry. He didn't look upset. He looked like a void

rgy that made the air temperature seem to drop ten degrees. He was the executor, the ki

ocked onto

ted for him to turn his back and leave her to the police. It was wh

n't leave. He