The Boy Who Became Don

ning, the ru

oo loud in the kitchen. Someone saw Connor le

rs reached

ed the house, suffocating. He sent two

ed to his study.

voice, low and furious. I imagined what he would do to her. To

o do so

into t

. My mother stood before him, pale and terrified. Connor

uted, my voice

rious gaze on me

fault. I begged him to stay. I wanted to hear about the

g. Suspicion warred with surprise. I had

s my mother had told me about Chicago. About her family. I twisted them, made them about Conn

g at my father, trying to seem eager, h

He was still suspicious, but he saw something else in m

"Get out.

didn't look at me. She just

llway. He put a hand on my

o," he said, h

t a small, heavy object wrapped in a sil

ver, custom-made. Engraved

y," he said. "But you

cago River. It doesn't flow naturally. They reversed it. A feat

e almost a whisper. "Just like lo

ward my moth

her," he said. "Tell h

ne in the hallway with the heavy lighter in my