via
a physical weight, a heavy, suffocating blank
er had arranged before the final move. It was quiet here. Too quiet. The
I didn't live.
l my vision blurred. I hadn't eaten a real meal in days, my body running on adrenaline and grief. The physic
nt terse updates thr
meter. Keep your head down. You
da
fe of Olivia Hayes, the mafia p
oday. The date of the Family Gala. The anniversa
lently-a phantom ache
move. I need
. I grabbed a cardboard box and began hurling things inside. The silk sc
soul clean with ble
I fo
near the fireplace, glinting in th
niti
day. There had been no velvet box, no ribbon, no
ap while reading a dossier, as
Don't l
my bare legs. I clutched the silver against m
ke a gift. It fel
I whispered, the word
s licked at the iron grate, hungry and orange, offe
My hand trembled, betraying me.
the fire, my voice br
oppe
anishing into the red heart of the coals. I watched it darken, imagininger disappeared,
of starvation finally claiming their toll. The e
r the mantle to steady myself
AS
pen, slamming against the wal
s. A silhouette filled the frame, blocking out the dying light. B
rc
sharp enough to cut glass. He didn't
ght you c
w, dangerous-a r
run, but my legs turned to wat
hit th
. Cold, hard arms tha
h filled my nose, overwhelming my senses. It
ing a shiver down my spine that
," he wh
ss swallowe
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