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Ella’s mouth formed a little o of surprise “They beat you?” she asked, her voice horrified, and ed “How dare they!”

My heart twisted in my chest, touched by her concern for me, for all of us “We’re okay,” I assured her “Really But after we left, there was a fire at the Ball Valentina thinks I set it to distract her while I ht we set fire to the Ball to escape my debt But Ella,” I took her hands in mine and prayed that she would believe me I didn’t think I could bear it if she doubtedto do with it I would never do anything like that, especially after Bernadette—” My voice broke I felt the coht of Saul’s hand on my shoulder “I didn’t set that fire, but it’s et out I tried—”

But Ella was shaking her head “It’s not your fault,” she said ada me—I can’t tell you how much itI have to tell you now”

The seven of us listened, wide-eyed and amazed, as Ella told us what she had learned

“I went back to the Ball,” she said “I wanted to find you, to tell youWell, never ot there, the fire had already started” Tears gathered in her eyes at the ht that maybe you all were inside But then I found Valentina, and she told me that you had left already I can’t tell you how relieved I was”

My heart clenched She had co for her, and it turned out she was out there, looking for me

Ella continued “I needed money for a bus ticket; my band had left already, and they’d taken my purse and my phone with them”

“Bitches,” Chris hts as well

“Valentina offered to let ive me money for my ticket if I would help her clean up the Ball a little” Ella’s voice grew quiet “I overheard her while I was cleaning She was telling someone that she had sent people out to look for you, that because of your debt, it would be easy to convince the authorities that you had set the fire” Ella’s eyes met mine “She set the fire herself, Grant For the insurance money It wasn’t your fault, Grant, any of it It was Valentina All Valentina”

A stunned silence descended on the group Valentina? Valentina had set fire to her own club, her livelihood? The place that meant so much to so many people?

Bernadette Suddenly, I felt sick Faulty pyrotechnics, the official investigation had concluded A tragic accident Noasn’t so sure If Valentina was capable of this, who’s to say she hadn’t done it before?

Saul was the first to break the silence “You’re sure?” he asked Ella nodded

“Absolutely sure,” she said “I knohat I heard”

Saul’s eyesexactly what I was: Valentina may well have murdered Bernadette