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"You said Lacey was brave," Emma said quietly "Why would you say that?"

Violet stared down at her fingers, which played with a leather button on her sweater, rolling it first one way, then the next "She wasn’t afraid of anyone," she whispered "It was as if she didn’t believe the world could hurt her" Violet looked up suddenly, , wasn’t she?"

E her own sorro "Lacey was the only fa why "There’s a place inside of ht next to one I don’t think it will ever stop hurting, but I knoon’t until I find out what really happened to Lacey"

Violet gave her a startled glance "But I thought--" Realization bloomed in her eyes, and she lost what little color she had "No," she whispered, shaking her head

"You went to the parties with Lacey, didn’t you, Violet?" Emma asked softly

"I can’t talk about this I won’t" Violet shook her head, once again refusing to look at E anyway"

E here, for forcing Violet Slayton to relive even the smallest part of whatever had happened to her But those men were still out there And they deserved to pay for what they’d done, to Lacey certainly, but to Violet and the others as well And to some other woman in the future if they weren’t stopped

"Lacey was e chance "I let everyone think it was a car accident because I don’t trust the police to handle it The men who killed her have too s talk in this town"

Violet was staring at her again, shaking her head "I can’t help you He did so so I wouldn’t rehed bitterly and ran a hand back through her dirty hair "As bad as this looks, it’s better than the alternative"

"Are you having flashbacks?" E the rape victihts that make no sense, but terrify you anyway?"

"Worse," Violet whispered "It’s worse because they make no sense Soether and o away But then I’et that far"

"Let me help you," Emma said "Let my friends help you"

"Friends? What friends?" Violet said, suddenly suspicious "Not one of the shallowed until she was al "Vampires," she breathed "They exist, you know," she said defiantly, as if assu Emma wouldn’t believe her

Emma nodded "I know"

Violet blinked "You believe me?"

"Of course I’ve been to the vampires’ residence, the embassy I know about Victor, and I knohat he did" Emma leaned forward earnestly "Victor is dead, Violet He can’t hurt you anymore"

"Dead?" Violet whispered in disbelief Her eyes filled with tears and she raised a treaze flashed up to meet Emma’s "Then you don’t need me"

"But I do," Emma said softly "I need you to tell me what happened I need to knoho the men were, so I can make them pay"

Violet closed her eyes, as if in pain She sat that way a long tiht she’d failed But then Violet spoke in a surprisingly strong voice "I don’t want h with this"

Eht quickly She needed someplace to meet with Violet, someplace where she’d feel safe Duncan’s estate was probably the most secure, but it was clearly out of the question Even if Violet had never been to the house, there were too ree to do it at Eht Da out Duncan and his vampires probably had houses all over the place They’d simply have to be sure the one they chose wasn’t soree to help me, I’ll pick you up myself," Emma assured Violet "You can tell your parents I’ out," she said, knowing it was true