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"That woman..." she pointed at her without a shred of hesitation, "...should be ashamed of herself. If she wanted to help you, there were other ways. A decent woman would have taken you anywhere but here. Instead she surrounded you with this filth and expected you to believe it was a home." Denise
Hazel held her tightly, too tightly. As though letting go for even a second might mean losing her all over again. She buried her face against Gianna's hair. "You found me..." Gianna whispered through tears. Hazel couldn't answer. She only held her closer. Then, over Gianna's shoulder, Hazel lifted
Salvatore watched her, "Hazel." She didn't stop, "If there's even the smallest chance my daughter is there..." her hands shook as she pulled on her coat, "...then she's not spending another minute in that place." She was halfway to the door before Salvatore caught up beside her. "Hazel, we don't
She slipped off Denise's lap and crossed the room, wrapping one arm around the pole, she pushed lightly from the floor. Her body rose in one smooth motion. She curled around the pole like a ribbon caught in the wind, every movement precise, every line unmistakably shaped by years of ballet. For a
Gianna laughed, suddenly shy beneath all the attention, "It wasn't perfect." "Oh, listen to Miss Perfection." Denise pointed toward the chrome pole standing near the corner of the room, "What about that?" Gianna followed her finger, "The pole?" Tasha nodded, "You think you can climb it?" Gianna
Before she could react, Morgan gently pressed the black costume into her arms, "Wear it." Gianna stared, "...No." "Yes!" they all shouted in unison. Denise hid another smile behind her coffee. Gianna looked toward her for help, "Mama D?" Denise lifted both hands, "I've learned not to argue when
Gianna ━⊰ ❦ ⊱━ "What have you been doing to yourself?" she wept, "My baby... what have you done?" I couldn't answer her. I couldn't even feel my own body anymore. I just stood by the open door, staring down at the pile of my tools on the rug, my eyes completely blank and empty. The room around
Mom sucked in a sharp breath. It sounded like someone had punched her in the ribs. The sorrow in her eyes flipped instantly into a dark, burning fury, her jaw clenching so tight the skin around her mouth went white. "Fine," she spat, "Just the doctor then. Please, Gianna. You have to do this for me
Before I could say a word, she scrambled to her feet. Her hands reached out, her fingers digging into the sleeves of my jacket, and she pulled me into her. The collision knocked the air right out of my lungs. She wrapped her arms around my back, holding me so tight I could feel the sharp bones of
Leone shifted his grip, locking his wrist against mine, securing us together, "Never." The car slowed down, Leone steered us into the parking lot of an old, abandoned diner. The sign on the roof was rusted, the neon letters of LUNCH hanging crookedly by a few black wires. The white paint on the w







