na

across town, seeking the

ursing

on

attering the grea

nt

t it

persistent, demanding tril

counting, happened to be walki

" he asked, pausing

staring at

, clearly mistaking our wor

he reached over and sn

erfully, answering for

d was heavy, instantly suff

Dante's voice w

," Mark stammered, his smi

one. Now. Or I will

ined of

ike it was a live grenad

.. for

the phone

you?" Dan

tin

h a

a colleag

ocation. I'm co

Dante. I

it.

ked no argument.

en, I

rger, every bite

watching the clock on

30. The staff began sta

ever

ling in my gut, I

ed a story jus

o of a hospit

d: My hero neve

hit me harder

sn't

never

the empty plate be