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At first, I think I do I s come her way The woman is vile, but…

Eood How could you not be happy that she got hers?"

I shrug "I don’t know Maybe my brain is broken, but I can’t take joy in someone else’s misery, even if it is Sottero’s"

Cole’s voice cuts through the room, "And that’s why I love you" He walks up behind me and kisses the top of my head

"Yeah," E You can’t be a heinous bitch for two decades and not have it come back to bite you on the ass Besides, she dropped the lawsuit, right?"

Cole shakes his head, "No, she didn’t"

Emma’s jaw drops as her eyes widen "What? Is she insane?"

"She’s playing the victiets the press to portray her in that light, then it makes sense why she’s been so bitter and fucked-up over the years All will be forgiven Kiss, kiss and all that"

"No," Eoal?"

"I have no clue what her goal is," Cole mutters "She’s Sophia This is typical Sophia"

I shake my head, "It doesn’t seem like she wants e That’s what she wants She wants to rip out uts, the way I ripped out hers"

"What are you talking about?" I ask

"She thought I was loaded She felt duped, Anna Sophia was slightly off-balance before, but noith the papers running stories about her--she’s like a rabid dog ju at my throat"

"Sorry," Em says and shrinks back into the couch next tosomewhat responsible for the increase in Sophia’s crazy levels

Cole says, "It’s not your fault It’s your job Besides, Sophia ht He looks at me for half a beat and then his eyes shift back to Em "Hoould you like to run a story for ht her attention "What’d you have in mind?"

CHAPTER 7

My parents insist on checking in with s and I pick it up "I’ood care of me"

"Thank God!" She blares into the phone I pull it back froo deaf Ma is one of those people who talks louder on a cell phone She acts like it’s a tin can on a string and practically screa about you I can’t stand you living so far away Coroan, "Ma, I’m fine Really And what happened could have happened anywhere It’s not like the whole stalker thing was random He went to your house for Chrissakes He see her of her conversation with Edward is like a kick to the gut Apparently his obsession withquestioning nized him

Ma’s voice shrinks back to a muffle "I didn’t know, honey I swear to God, I had no idea that he--"

I cut her off, "That’s the point Nobody knew and it could have happened anywhere I’m safe here, Ma I’ll be at Cole’s for a few more days and then I’ll move back in with Emma"

I don’t pull the phone back in time for the wave of tyrannical threats that spew from the tiny speaker I open my mouth to respond, but Cole snatches the phone fro anywhere, Mrs Lamore" He says it so calmly, so certainly I cock my head at him and feel extra stubborn I don’t doubt for a second that he thinks I’et on withhere

I can still hear Ma yelling back, "She better not!"

"I assure you, she is staying here with , I will deposit her on your doorstep She’s not going anywhere alone until Edward is behind bars You have s are kind of hard right now No one wants to leave o at me

Ma’s voice lowers and I can’t aze until he hangs up

Cole sighs and handsto tell me this marvelous plan?"

I squirm on the couch and pull my knees into my chest "Never" I kneouldn’t like it

"I thought so" He sits down next toyou want, but it’s so far froo back there He’s out on bail Edward could co straight ahead