in the study th

armchair that used to swallow me w

just a chair.

bout Luca,

d by the door, maintain

it is a lesson in the li

nate," I

ted like ash

I said, my voice steady. "Yet you let my brother be tortured to

xhale of a parent deali

's blood bought my life. It is a matter

," I e

too

ahogany desk and

own. "He wanted out. He wanted to go to culinary school

ante repli

. "You just didn't care enough to

ed at m

looke

gue, I cry. I beg.

es were dry

dismissed. "I expected bette

stated coldly. "And I am

hed pa

you going?"

scent of your hypocri

l of the gala-and

il my flesh wa

airs, the rich aroma of garlic

ncal

t the head

sitting

r that looked suspiciously like t

. "You look terrible. So pale. I made dinner. Da

erous portion of

ed. "It's a co

d at th

ated innocently

rs

evere pars

es anap

It is bolded on the emergency co

know

ast, I t

. Four years a

eat this,

illing with instant, practiced tears. "I spent h

up from his p

t a little. Out of resp

parsley,

napped. "Stop being difficult.

n't re

ly didn't

, her specific coffee order, an

ber that his wife cou

inside m

't a lo

tether breaking in the

t and shoved

ceramic bo

splashed acr

Sofia

scre

, but she screamed li

his feet in

ng with you?

rantically at Sofia's hand, chec

, burying her face in his ch

turned

h a rage I had never see

" he comman

ked a

n I had loved sinc

" I

pped a dangerous octav

it scars

l and walked out o

comforting h

ola*. She's hyste

o the gu

ed the

dn't

the wall and wa