spoken
nded like a boulder dropped between us. "What? Dad's family doesn't know about us?" My voice shook so hard I barely rec
her lap, where her hands twisted together like tan
me this was real. My whole life, I'd assumed Dad's family was just... gone. Maybe they'd died before I was born. Maybe
ke a slap: Their parents kne
distance. It wa
there was no one
ght of
e chair sat empty. His laughter no longer rumbled through the halls. E
Her face was pale but determined. "David," she said, "I'm p
the fees anymore. But my stomach still dropped to my feet.
r poster herself. Over the years, I'd memorized everything about her: the way she tucked her braids behind her ears when concentratin
finally say, "I love you," without tripping over
hat Wouldn'
s. Before the coffin. I'd go back to the version of my life where Favour was still d
rches forward, crushing ever
and tried not to think about the future waiti
Tran
led through the phone, sharp with frustration. "Mrs. David Oke
nch. "The deci
ust embarrassing-it meant less money for new labs, fewer scholarships. But
Mafia's Sc
laughing. "It's the best option now," she said, as if enrolling me in a place
I even cried. But
ts learned things like "strategic combat" and "loyalty enforcement." Government-appro
I didn't want to be a kingpin. I just w
didn't cha
ise to
even when Mom's choices felt like punishment, I obeyed. If st
nd I Lef
in nice cars. But Favour? She'd once scolded me for wasting money on expens
ja, with no way to explain why I'd vani
ewell
few weeks. But then Mom announced, "We're st
. Some secrets, I'd learned
ne thing: to say goodbye to Favour. Not with a text or a c
Contin