“If you don’t take my ultimatum, you’ll see how wicked I can be.”
His words, his voice and his stare grind my nerves, squashing my self-confidence. He detects that, which curls his lips into a mirthless smug, making the lines on his face deepen. All of a sudden, the door is banging and Lavine’s voice is penetrating through it.
“Open this door! Cloette!”
Lavine’s yell snaps me like a crooked and unpromising twig. I quiver as more tears cascade from me. My chest throbs while my body chills. Don Rusell stands up, then straight-backed and noiselessly walks past me. The instant the door squeals open, thumps of shoes echo. The next thing I know, Lavine is hunkering in front of me. His warm hands reach for my face to dry my tears.
“Cloette.”
My name is all he could say. He couldn't even assu
