"Bella" D

room, my hand bandaged and throbbing, my

was sitting by my bed, her face a mas

abbing my forehead with a cool cloth. "They le

had rushed to Haleigh's side, ignoring

fussing over what they cal

neled into their failing family enterprise, the care I gave them wh

e said, her voice thick with so

pain didn't shatter me. It forged me. What had been cracked and

That was now more than a

sense of purpose, only to find a lavish

day, too. No on

aleigh with her gifts: a diamond necklace that glittered like ice

sneered when

ked. "A spider bite isn't an excuse to

of concern. "Haleigh is fragile. She's

l rage, a chilling

aid, my smile unset

it was time for a

th images of Haleigh from her five years away-drunken nights

New York's Favorite Whore"

he laughter choke

d to kill the feed,

ted a trembling finger at me an

iled, her sobs echoing

ng on mine. They were cold, hard ch

y for this,"