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t the glass coffee t
tract," Richa
forefinger again
said. "The Cooper family wi
is company," he added,
or the engagement to their
e corner, Brenda Shaw set her
for the ten years we
ust-belt gutter," Brenda snee
on the low couch
y linen paper was cl
in the financial pages, an
-framed glasses up t
past the paper to
t under the yellow st
houettes pressed togeth
his hand behind
use, her red lips part
them throu
ing dirty rainwate
nothing
or swung ope
living room, smoothing
ht red, her breathin
e lamplight, turning her wrist so
diamond that had belo
. "Donovan and I set o
r, thrusting the ri
re happy for u
id no
s a gift for someone l
ed. "Your real blood relatives are
ng herself between them
," Brenda snapped. "We
oor clicked
the foyer, tucking his dre
cheap cologn
ht past Ava with
d yet?" Donova
ng about it,"
n said, checking his watch. "I
up from
ent still
to me three years ago,"
g her chin. "He gave
stepping forward. "Now you stand in
eyes. "Cry about
like a whip throu
k Megan's cheek
nto the armchair, clutchi
d shriek as blood welled
n screamed. "Mo
unging forward to
ace flushed
ard roared, stepping up with
d not
to his eyes, her postu
l si
iet, but they cut
stopped two inc
hed, his fingers t
u say?" Rich
Iverson Cooper," Ava
bbing, looking up wi
from her bruised cheek,
m, his shoulders slump
nto her canva
folded sheet of c
arely on top of th
favor," Ava said. "
the fresh sheet. "W
petition to terminate
he date stamped
" Ava said. "Tomorrow morni
ore the clerk and s
he law wipes my name fro
kenzie, and nothi
ieked from
renda screamed. "We ra
oof over your he
r pen from the table an
ward the wood
ur name," Ava
y midnight to pay your debts
ly take your house tomo
he blank signature
ack and forth, g
, but Donovan looked
hose swollen cheek wa
ichard ch
one foot on the f
not turn
through clenched teeth. "N
back to the
up the heav
inst the Cooper agreement and
Mcke
dark, sharp,
the pen ont
oth surface and clicked
the four of them
the wooden stairs in
a closed her
ck until the dead
narrow window over
led away from the curb, its red t
ocket and pulled out a batter
interface and typed si
need a
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