'S

've survived that

s. Bet

shatter a man until they quietly walk up to

quite fit, his hands buried in his pockets like he was hiding a secret. One of my guards had just escorte

laughed

I sa

e loo

eyes met, my

they

oy who had neve

married?" he asked. No

owly. "Yeah

head. "Are y

level. "What

ng. Measuring. Then his mouth

n't smi

t good

hy

people w

ce. His fingers brushed my scar-the one runn

oks like

di

ke a tiny so

ke that, he leane

e what to do. Then instinct, no, blood, took over. I wrapp

ave always wanted

sed m

d you to

-

me sitting on the back patio wi

were slow,

him," s

at her. "He'

t's just by

y law, biologic

d at me, s

lized myself. "Never

the sun sinking beh

but I don't know how you are going t

and tell me, after all, I am y

r, I think, am the guy from five y

are the guy I sle

a,

t me p

d've told

ould've

terness in her v

u," I said finally. "You

d n

" I said. "But now

y. "That's not ho

is n

round the chain on my neck. The boy didn't know t

he w

n't make sure he survived

rmured. "It does

h him how to fight it w

aving me alone with a future I never thought

with m

s

leg