own ten minutes early. She chose a secluded boo

her mid-tier, three-hundred-dollar leather handbag right in the center of

in. She was wearing a beige designer trench co

to Ellery's handbag, then scanned Ellery's plain sweat

ut the premium black velvet box. She slid it across

ed forward, her eyes wide with greed. "How much are we up? Dad i

her black coffee. The bitt

tenance," Ellery lied smoothly, not breaking eye conta

into the leather booth. Her shoulders dropped in reli

hand across the table, her manicu

velvet, pinning it to the table. She widened her eyes, putting on

her voice dropping an octave,

her hand and cracked the lid of the

massive cubic zirconia dead center. The fake diamond fractured the

rally dropped. She stared at the s

ly uncomfortable. "From that Wall Street whale I tol

t's way too flashy for me. It looks ridiculous. I'm taking it to t

ssed against the edge of the table. Pure, u

pawn that! It's gorgeous! Ellery, please. Give it to

al. I need the cash. I'm putting together some...

ked at her own brain. "You and your stupid doomsda

ht at Kendal's chest. Specifically, at the dull, t

rning sharp and unreasonable. "Fine. Trad

r chest, then back at Ellery like s

I want the only thing that actually belongs to me. The only thing I have f

a single second. Her hands flew to the back of her neck. She

d it onto the wooden table like it was a piece

d her breathing to remain steady. She slowly reach

velvet box ac

ediately fastened it around her neck. She pulled out her phone, opened her front-

lm, a faint, microscopic jolt of electricity zapped her

sp twenty-dollar bill from her wallet and

go," Ellery

m her phone screen, Ellery turned on

ran to her car. She threw herself into the driver's seat, locked the doors, and grip