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“Thanks”

“How old were you?”

“Thirteen,” she answers And then she sighs “I kneanted to be like her She was so graceful, so talented Her voice was like honey I kind of felt like, if Iit for both of us She wasn’t ready to be done yet” And then she gives this bitter little laugh “So I went to the same acade me There was no way I could have afforded it, even with the scholarships I got,” she adds, and I nod “And now, he’s in danger of losing his life because of me”

The self-hatred in her voicestupid This is a business arranges escort for all of the o to over the nextabout that, not about how to help her fix her life

But the fact is, I’ that, to my total surprise, I actually like Samantha She is so far froent, well-spoken, driven And despite her nervousness, she’s the rare wohed in the face of anyone else who’d toldher as an escort I respected her for telling me what she needed And we ement: I’ll use her services as often as I need, and she’ll acco-ass events my father makes me attend And when the month is up, when it is tione

Easy

“Well, you fixed that The money’s in your account, but you won’t have full access to it until the month is up”

“That’s all that matters,” she says quietly, and we drive the rest of the way towhen I pull into the parking garage, though I can tell by the expression on her face that she’s i

We step onto lances around The sides of the elevator are glossy black, and I can see her reflection in it A flash ofour reflection froain

Tonight I’et through first

Chapter Three

Samantha

When the elevator doors open, Dante leads , leams He unlocks the door at the end of the hallway and steps aside, waving me in

The first gliives me a definite “We’re not in Kansas any from the hallraps around the wide-open area, except for one wall of hich looks right out over the bay A kitchen and dining area are at one end, expensive-looking stainless steel appliances and black granite everywhere Wood floors span the area At the other end is a large living rooe fireplace

“Your roo down a hallway I follow, taking in the glea artwork on the walls He opens a set of French doors and steps into a room I follow