na

linds, casting long, slanted shadows a

led down my black canvas go-bag, tossed

ok the es

k stacks of untraceable currency, and

designer dresses Dante had boug

en the sound of a key turning in the heavy lock

Dante walked i

om the banquet, its fabric now deeply

hed roses clung to his clothes a

's signatu

my fingers diggi

s claimed he de

t the scent of my expensive collection that I

rs smelling of nothing but uns

s soak into the very collar of his shirt. That small, specific knowledge fel

oorway when he saw th

ht, offering a rare

he muttered, his gaze fixed on a point just

e years he had bothered to of

ing to our silent, syn

d not

his gaze dropping

for a syndicate

ssing my tongue to the roof of my mo

a visible br

he rigid tension leavi

uick glance at his luxury watch. "I am just gra

king, I smoothed out the sweat

rig

d to formally sever our

ye and end our eight-year relatio

lled that fina

ante walked briskly to

erged holding a small

m the hook by the front door and r

door slammed s

he impact ratt

on the back of that door for ei

th a brittle crack, shatteri

the bedroom and stared

r very first Family i

tightly clasped together; his knuckles were br

ley that night, swearing a blood oath to always protect me

his protégée, those sacr

e rhythmic, hollow ticking of the wa

for a long time, feelin

bed a broom, and meticulously swe

and picked up

smiling girl I used to be, and th

oment, the shattered glass glinting like

ed I felt no