ESSA

y. He made rules for everything. When I could eat, where I could go,

while Dante sat across from me radiating contempt. Tommy tried to lighten

nte said on the fifth night.

not h

in front of you. I'm not having

o you care wh

d. "Since it refl

ork just to end

ling in, Alessand

thank

room," Dante said. "Pa

pen a w

here to integrate with this

ctly do you want from me? You

orward. "Tomorrow, you're coming with me to meet our suppliers. You're goi

anything about

s the point." He stood up

er Dante left. "

me. That's

is wine. "You both carry the same fire. He burns hot and an

nothing

co stood. "Six AM tomorrow. Dante

operate. Dr. Elena's pills were running low, and I'd bee

zzed. A tex

ing you right or should I come remind him

cious five years ago. Now

had said no contact with

came through

ons. This is your job now. Don't

spy. And Dante probably expected the same from

s and stared at the ce

******

exactly six AM. "Get up. W

n I opened the door, h

hat you'r

s and sweater. "Wha

e going to paint, no

ng else. I packed li

h a black button-down shirt and jacket. "Put t

rehouse district. Tommy met

the shipment, verify quality, and handle payment. You wa

derst

p, embarrass me in front of these p

e men waited by stacked crates.

new guy?"

Dante said. "O

ed ease. When he found a crate with dil

ou think I won't notice

take, we'll

he third supplier this month to make a mistake

can make thi

pulled his gun. Point

ommy shifted beside me

replace this entire shipment with quality product by tomorrow morning

ot possib

crate inches from the man's head

. Half price. I'l

the word. Anyone else who tries to chea

nally spoke. "Wa

use

r diluted product. There wer

ays. You mean what, Ale

t terroriz

und." He pulled over suddenly. "Actually, why don't you do that? Walk. It'll give you

playing a

use your family murders people. Because your father ordered my family burned alive. So don't lecture me about

re se

y. Get out

drove off, leaving me standing in an industr

hrough the compound gates, my feet were blistered and I was exhau

ou long

re in

care about your feelings. You either adapt or y

stic bastard who en

des t

He grabbed my arm,

you a q

makes you look petty." I pulled free. "And I learned that I should've let

ckering behind the arrogance. For jus

"Dinner at seven

ted Dr. Elena. Asked

se came im

ssandro. Not for surviving abusive rela

. Getting out w

came throug

ing to be much harder on you than I ev