her debit card against the payment terminal, grabbed her bag without waiting for the receipt, and sprinted
ipped her hands, the thick callus on the inside of her right index finger-worn from years of menial work after being a
rubbed her mother's trembling back, trying t
s and the sharp clack of heels echoed down the s
urls and a face tight with too much Botox. It was Irl Terry, the biological father who had walked out on Jannie and
tively pulled Jannie behind her ba
y moving. "Visiting the old man, of course. And maki
She stepped out from behind her m
ile. "Jannie, look how much yo
sgust. "Jerk. You lost the right
nicured finger toward Jannie's nose. "Is that any way
th red-rimmed eyes. Spotting Irl, she pointed down the ha
em toward the door. "I'm his only son! I can afford
hands against Irl's chest to block him. Seeing this, Corie lunged forwar
k in pain, Corie used the moment
. She stumbled backward and slammed the small of her back an
annie gasped, her face turning gray as cold sweat drenched
to her knees to catch her daughte
neered. "Quit putting on a
her pocket, dialed 911 on speaker, and spoke through clenched teeth. "I need police dispatch to Man
unged for the phone. "Are
ew York Penal Law, disorderly conduct and assault inside a medical f
had come to sniff around for money, not get ar
s sleeve as they backed away toward the elevator
evaporated. Her knees gave out, and she slid down the wall onto the
ff rushed down the hall with a gurney and
/1/132112/coverbig.jpg?v=09f333f8cb8e67ff99858d22e10272fd&imageMogr2/format/webp)