---- was swollen like a crimson balloon. Even then, they did not stop until my gums were screaming in pain. My swollen face made it hard to eat. Even buns felt like rocks to my teeth. My tormentors squashed the buns underneath their feet and stuffed the black, dirty... thing into my mouth. That memory made my stomach churn. I held back my urge to retch and pinched my deformed pinky. The pain kept me awake. "Sorry, I don't have anything I want right now." A frown creased Lawrence's forehead. He looked at me dubiously and warned, "Remember what you said. Don't come to me later. I don't have any patience for you." "Yeah." All I wanted was for him to leave. "I won't. " Lawrence didn't press for answers. Maybe he wasn't planning to give me anything anyway. " ---- You'd better not." He started walking away, but then he stopped. With his back turned to me, he said darkly, "I gave that necklace to Yvette. Don't go after her for that. " He strode off before I could say anything.