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Lady Annabelle DiSalvo smiled as she walked down the crowded sidewalk of Bellacitta, the capital of Mirraccino Though the day hadn’t started off the way she’d hoped, she had high hopes for the afternoon

With a fewby Princess Zoe’s suite of offices They had becoood friends since Zoe and the crown prince had reconciled theira n business—although her hours had to be drastically reduced to acco a wife and mother If Zoe could ain her freedom from her father’s overzealous security

It wasn’t until then that Annabelle recalled the email Zoe had sent her Zoe had left toith her husband on an extended diplo with his wife’s family, the palace was bound to be very quiet

Soled not to fall over As she waved her arms about, the strap of her purse was yanked from her shoulder Once her balance was restored, her hand clenched the strap

No as this guy going to get aith her purse—with herat the bottoretted forcing Berto to walk at least ten paces behind her This was all going down too fast for him to help

Knowing the fate of the journal was at stake, she held on with all of her ht But the short lanky kid with a black ball cap wasfast His momentum practically yanked her arm out of its socket

Pain zinged down her arers instinctively loosening their grip And then they were gone—the purse, the journal and the thief

“Hey! Stop!” Annabelle gripped her sore shoulder

“Are you okay?” Berto asked

“No I’et my purse! Quick!”

The man hesitated She knew his instructions were to stay with her no matter what, but this was different That thief had her last connection to her ot away, Annabelle took off with Berto close on her heels

“Lady Annabelle, stop!” Berto called out

No way! She couldn’t She wasn’t about to let another piece of her past be stolen from her The hole in her heart caused by her mother’s death was still there It had scar tissue built up around it, but on those occasions when a , the pain could be felt with each beat of her heart

Annabelle’s feet pounded the sidewalk harder and faster “Stop him! Thief!”

Adrenaline flooded her veins as she threaded her way through the crowd of confused pedestrians Some had been knocked aside by the thief Others had stopped to take in the unfolding scene