Bound to be with the ruthless mafia

ter

kitchen. He stood in front of th

g, Josh," sh

idn't

wns. I wanted to bring some for you, but you were still

on," Josh replied coldly as he grabbed a

on Josh's door, holding a p

back until after lunch-she went grocery shopping. You can't starve until then. Pleas

slipped on his headset a

"You can keep hating me, but I'm beggin

n, and Josh stepped

"Why do you care if I eat or not? You have

s misty. "You don't know how much it hurt, all those years..

n he paused and looked over his shoulder. "If you were really my mother,

he door shut

chen sink, trying to compose herself. She knew she deserved Josh's punishment-but she was trying to fix things, and he woul

n't take

ance to explain-that she

s, grabbed her phon

mug. "What a wonderful day this is-

voice breaking with sobs. "I tri

u left him for eight years, and no

d. "Just get him to come

will you do for me i

g your own son to eat?" Eileen as

or by letting him trust you enough to eat your cooking. That's a big deal. You owe me for that. All of this"-h

t of Josh giving her even a sliv

ea

him," Jos

e heard Josh's voi

that hungry. I can wait

e... I don'

was a

ng this becaus

r heart fluttered. She hurri

d wearing his headset. He paused, clearly unsure of himself. Then h

d silently

me fried egg

me he'd spoken to h

she said, smili

im. He sat down and immediat

gently, signaling f

ked, removing

u like? So I don't make the mistake

sig

ay leaves. And I'm aller

picy food?" sh

t too spicy,

d, smilin

im as she cooked the eggs, savoring the quiet moment. She wanted to stretch the time jus

she saw her Joshboy again-the baby she once held

she asked as

ttle of soda from t

t for you," she

ing more wasn't healthy-but this wasn't the time to

eating, he head

gs that good?" she asked, smiling a

ied. "I was jus

as she washe

oom for fifteen minutes. The first time he'd spoken to her calmly. José-the devil himself-had done her a favor. And if it m

___

night," Mrs. Maya said as

I was so happy yesterday, aft

nowing smile. "Your Joshboy is still

en said. "I'll

," Mrs. Maya said, gesturing for

nk it's the same one you mentioned before.

Eileen's e

e only one who couldn't be bought. If she could find him, they could work

José Sant