Lisette was furious, screaming at Calliope at the top of her lungs.


    Right then, she was an absolute mess. Sharon had pped her across the face several times, leaving her cheek swollen and raw. The pain brought tears and snot streaming down her face, making her look even more pitiful.


    Calliope just nced over at her, cold and indifferent.


    "Why would I bother getting my hands dirty hitting you?" she scoffed. "If I wanted you gone, a little poison in your morning coffee would do the trick."


    Then Calliope turned to Sharon with a warm smile. "Hey, darling! Long time no see!"


    "Callie!" Sharon squealed, practicallyunching herself at Calliope and wrapping her in a hug. "Seriously, it''s been ages! How have you been?"


    "I''m good," Calliope replied, grinning. "Your hand must be sore after all that. But you got your anger out, right? She already looks hideous, and we''ve got an auction to enjoy, don''t we?"


    "Totally!" Sharon was bouncing with excitement, like a kid on Christmas morning.


    "Get her out of here," Calliope said, nodding toward Lisette. "Trash like that shouldn''t even be allowed at our auction!"


    Lisette was quickly dragged away, still casting desperate nces toward Valerian and his group-but no one moved a muscle to help her. They all just pretended she didn''t exist.


    Once Lisette was gone, the ballroom returned to its usual lively chatter.


    Calliope and Sharon caught up for a minute.


    "You''re just letting that witch go?" Sharon asked, ncing at Calliope. "I mean, I get it, you don''t like to get your hands dirty. But if you want her gone, I could arrange something. No one would ever trace it back to you."


    Calliope shook her head. She didn''t like Lisette, but murder was a bit much-even for her. Sharon, on the other hand, had never been squeamish about that sort of thing. Must''ve been a family habit.<fn34ef> Content originallyes from FindN()vel</fn34ef>


    After a moment''s thought, Calliope


    replied, "Death would be too easy for her. Let her stay alive, lose


    met


    everything, and live out her worst Hghtmares. That''s real punishment. Death is quick. Hopelessness? That''s real pain."  s?novels


    Sharon''s eyes sparkled. "God, you''re even more ruthless than me."


    Calliope just shrugged. She hadn''t really meant it, but it did make sense. She wasn''t into killing people, but she didn''t mind making someone wish they were dead.


    Sharon muttered, still a bit grumpy, "I should''ve wrecked her face even more. If it weren''t for all these people, I would''ve gone all out."


    "Don''t worry about it," Calliopeughed. "You scared her so bad, I thought she was about to wet herself."


    "Really? Am I half as good as you?" Sharon asked with childlike innocence. "Way better than half," Calliope grinned.


    "You have no idea how much that means to me!" Sharon beamed, practically glowing with happiness.


    As the two of them chatted, members of the Jewell family hung around nearby, clearly wanting to get closer to Calliope but too nervous to approach with all the security cameras.


    Monty sent someone to figure out what had happened. When the details came back, he frowned, finally understanding the situation.


    "What''s going on?" Zelda asked him.


    "That woman''s family is tied up with the mob." Monty muttered, rubbing his temples. And apparently she''s got some old engagement to Tanner. Never heard a word about it!"  s


    "She''s got a vicious streak a mile wide. I shouldn''t have sent Lisette over without checking first. Now we''re in deep trouble. If we piss her off were toast Best we keep our distance from Lisette from now on."  s


    Monty sighed heavily. Things at home were already chaotic, and now it looked like


    they''d just gotten a whole lot worse.