ing scent of ant

a fluorescent light. White ceiling. White w

sharp blaze of pain in my

r to put a steadying hand on my shoulder. "You t

in?" My voice wa

om the club.

e. Of co

he IV drip. Every drop was a second o

from the hallway. Nurses gossip

things got too wild with his... mis

ht he was marrying

hat always

red, a white-hot brand against my side, but I ignored it. I ripped the

stood. I smoothed down my ruined black dress

ut into th

down the corridor.

bed, his arm in a sling. Sofia was ho

d like a h

lked

ambled to stand, pushing Sofia away with a s

at happened to you

tepped back, recoiling

imply. "Down the s

He realized. He real

swimming in his gaze. "This is... this is Sofia. An old frien

ng a manicured hand. "Hi. I'm Sofia. The 'F

ed. "Sofia

past her, at Dante. "Is this the b

s complicated. I wa

arrying he

Dante

shouted at

day as yours. Funny, right? Dante says he ca

's crazy. She's... she's sick. She has cancer.

ould feel them coating my

t was a dry,

that day, D

pleaded. "I'll be at th

toward the door. "I me

t do you mean? Y

re dry. My heart was a piec

Dante. I will be walking down

t. To

ession felt sharp, lik

ated. "But you might want to c

n riddles! You're hurt

. The command cracked like

"I have a wedding to pla

I turned my back. "You can't

sterile white hallway, leaving the dea

ized from my father's old ledger. I needed to confir

ang

e," a deep, grave

aid. "Tell the Don the date i

the line. Then, a low chuckle that s

s listening,

ing at the exit sign, "I