The mafia boss obsession

nor

nd should have fe

lt like someth

buri

ced myself to believe it. Because what else could I do? I was sixteen. My

memory, a summer I

ife w

to th

ment I returned. It was everything I had missed-the crowded streets, the en

into my usual r

for late-night adventures. Laughing lik

dn't matter. That i

was ju

or a while,

and a New

tually, high school fa

fresh start. A place where not

hen I me

othing l

g, charming, and open. He had this effortless way of making people f

t day, leaned over as the professor started talking, and whisp

ck a laugh. "Wow. Gr

d. "So that's

Always quick-witt

hip. Late-night study sessions, grabbing coffee between

lt no

elt

ne night, h

at Was Ne

Daniel

crets, no unspoken shad

time, I felt like I had som

something w

nt to admit

as kind, he understood me, and he m

d and my mind had nowhere to run, I would think of piercin

nore

self to believe that what I

't about for

bout k

p down,

re than someone wh

ment, a silence stretching between us l

't workin

ing down his coffee cup. "N

ilt pressing against

You still care about s

no. That this had nothing to do with Ale

couldn

lways deserv

w," I whispe

is lips. "Then that's

t. How he let me go withou

at was

other life, we cou

n thi

piece of myself beh

pretende

or closing echoed throug

my chest tightening as Alex'

you, Eleanor. You will

ting the knob with all my stre

wood, my voice breaking with frustra

le

room. It was large, luxurious, nothing like a prison ce

eplace crackled in the corner, casting flickering shadows along the walls. The wi

door, my breath com

really

en me. Loc

mach t

after everything-I ha

liar D

against the door, sq

to t

ed boy with sadness in his eyes. That boy was long

knew this wasn't

ver about

ears, tracked me down, stolen me

o kee

never leav

hiv

get out

Esc

the heavy curtains. I yanked them

ocked-it was reinforced.

reaking through

laugh escaped

ything-that could help me. A weapon, a way out, some

n't some car

nned this. E

was tr

dge of the bed, m

just his

is poss

never let go