TIED TO AN OUTLAW

o those who feel, but a c

ce Wa

f my fiancé's aura sipped into my veins. He had enough

hesitated to

od drained from my face. I watched his jaw tick as he waited for my response

y breath was a struggle. My skin itched with un

ry hum-the kind you feel deep in your spine just before something terrible happens. For a

ie, Sessie, Sessie... Do I need to ask twic

tter-c

ed breath. How could I possibly explain who Jake was? How could I admit that I fancied a boy from my art class, a boy whose heart was s

words like pinpricks driving into my skull. "So, let me indulge you... again.

anger. There was something in his eyes-something I'd seen

o's crime family-a neat little trick to keep the "Vinseltti" operations, as I liked to call it, nice and tidy. I remember a so-called friend of mine practically breaking the sound barrier to warn little ninth-grade me that "my Tizzy" had gotten mixed

p in the face, leaving me with a nosebleed for my trouble. It took Cosimo cutting short

y time-not even a fraction of the times I'd en

ow far more contaminated by the monster that had claimed him. His grip? God don't

you're h

! Goddamnit!" He groan

him, but that was a truth the family never acknowledged beyond these doors. That was a truth they never even acknowled

e wreckage that followed in his path. I'd heard the maids whispering their horror stories, see

than anything science could ever explain. Nothing could ever capture the sheer violence of his outbursts, the wa

was alone with him, the way I had to constantly wal

efore I could stop myself. His hand hovered in the air, the corners of his mouth twitching into a smile that di

lin

ce... and Remo or Cosimo h

rs of my life, drowned in his manipulation and

ssi

t a term of endearment when he used it. It was a s

just a friend," I stammered, hating how weak I sounded. "Someon

nugget of information to myself, fully aware that if Tiziano found out, he'd either pay to make Jake disappea

of his words. Before I could react, his free hand wa

led through the recent calls. Groaning from the pain of my hair being yanke

the ringing on the other end. Please don't pick up-

uilt. And what a coincidence that I was surrounded by a cast of characters straight out of a bad historical drama? The cavemen, the Vikings, the medieval kings... it's a wonder I didn't get

e if Jake

emed to echo in my mind, the tension mounting until I thought

f was short-lived. Tiziano's expression darkened, his jaw tightening as he en

s eyes never leaving mine. The sound of it shattering against the marble t

pieces of the phone lay scattered at our feet, broken-just

ing sour underneath. "You're lucky, Sessie." His whispered words were hot against my cheek. "If I ever fi

th my courage. I could only nod, praying that he'd believe me,

acks. Then, with a cold smile, he turned and walked away, leaving me

nd myself as if I could hold all the pieces together. The silent prayer on my

ntly, more followed. Before

mo to hold him back, no Vi to call him out. There would just be a s

uld I survi

't need to turn around to know who it was; even in my sleep, I'd recognize

never-ending cycle of destiny. I inhaled, put on my best 'I'm okay' face, and

mockingly scolded myself. "C

le hair to the side, her gaze darting between my eyes and

ldn't I

d. "It's ju

. Honestly, I'd rather she not dig into the latest disaster of my married life. Not that if I

ily, keeping your true feelings

th a purpose, so I guessed.

ine-time for the women to retreat to their little kingdom while the men, the real night owls, wen

sked the rhetorical question: "Let me guess

of chaos. One-a walking submissive wife. Another-a live grenade

sarcasm. "I'll pass" was my diplomatic way of

lify the destruction with a toxic road trip with my sister and our half-sisters-whom she seem

ingered before she stepped in closer. "You know," she whispered, "sometimes the things we commit to end up committing to us. I can see how yo

om the same cloth-each one tethered

in a hug that practically screamed pity. "You're engage

anaged to know about Jake, she vanished, leaving behind only