he front doors echo

und Ava. The familiar scent of Chanel No. 5 filled Ava's lungs. The smell

ck. "What happened to y

d her breathing to hitch. She let the lingering adrenal

in the fever. I saw Warren taking everything. I saw us on the street. I saw you.

stinct overrode the shock. She kissed the top of A

her hand. "Call Dad's old board members. The ones W

dening. She turned and walked quic

d her shoulders. She walked down the sweeping stair

black Steinway grand piano. The polishe

red at her wrists. She flipped her hands over, looking at the pale skin over her veins. She remembered

oints moved smoothly. The mus

keys. Her muscles, still weakened by the massive fever, trembled slightly. The physical toll of her illness was unde

shed down on

ncoordinated, but as the fury took over, the music morphed. She hammered the keys. The tempo was frantic, aggressive, and violent. T

stared through the glass, their mouths slightly open, shocked by

ushed to its absolute limit. She slammed her hands down on the final chord. She hel

ily for breath. Her lungs burned for oxygen

o was not enough. Having a sharp mind was not enough. She needed physical powe

and closed

is serve

e way he stood. His weight was perfectly balanced on the balls of his feet. His hands rested lo

t him. "Than

and walked past him t