ella

nside, the Patek Philippe glinted under the spotlights-the same way it had when I'd handed over my m

n," the salesman had crooned

thinly veiled contempt. "Madam,

to the glass counter, the tremor in my

. "Exchanges only. With the

g stemware sliced thro

t isn't my brothe

le Birkin dangling like a noose. Her gaze-cold as the diamonds at her

hed. "Aw. Did someone's sugar

rons pretended not to eavesdro

concern you,

carried the weight of a guillotine. "Did you t

My throat burned, but I forced my

ever yours, darling. Not Damon. And certainly not-" She snapped

other week, Alan would have to wait for treatment.

account, will you

who couldn't have been more than seven standing there, his tiny hands tucked into miniature s

rled. "And who might

ed, puffing out his chest. "And

wonderful child-threw me a conspiratorial wink before turning his stern gaze on the

ared in determination. Just like Alan used to do

d, my lips curvi

ounter, his presence commanded the room. The manager's for

s. "Prove your status, little lord. Or are

patted his blazer pockets frantically before his

shattered the momentary hope.

r. "I believe store policy prohibits entertaining frauds and thei

ically. "You almost got me, boy. Sec

ard as security herded us toward the exit, his teeth worrying his lower lip raw.

vel. He was kicking angrily at loose pavement. "T

ue eyes, unshed tears making them glitt

ollow feeling when hope curdles into helpless

, shattering the tension. I burst out laughing.

art was downright reverent. "For real? D

lier sophistication vanishing between messy bites. In thi

blob of tomato jam from his ch

og, then stiffened as two shadows fell across us. The bodygua

through clenched jaws. "Your father

uards reached for him, he surprised us all-launching himself at me with sticky hands and the unmis

reath warm and sweet with soda pop. Then he pulled back just enough to

hole, leaving me standing on the curb with my

had led u