AT

ltrasound," Yolie says through the

ng Beavan set some files on it. "We

sighs. "I'm sorry. I just..

aby's gender, right?" I ask. Yoli

ach second on the desk till she finally does.

"East has

d the company doesn'

brother won't dare me unless Vietili

nish in an hour. Tell your doctor to get you what

e hospital isn't safe. East gets information somehow, and y

gans. "I'll deal with him. Re

. "I love you

the cal

ainly, she knows how much hearin

I find I'm sinking into a silence that eats up my

ws a long bridge bet

ere possible. But, no, I have to work, mostly to c

o man. His ego made him enemies from every quarter,

even know when it'll end. But I know this-it h

was my brother, East, thou

d flushed East's pregnancy when asked

e couldn't bend straws, then pushed him into the company

s my phone dings. East's text sits on the phone screen: '

s too-ones she sent me through the week; ignor

her melancholia. The height of her immatur

, some years later, she's still the same old Mellow with

year older is probably better than having someone fo

antilism blinded her from seeing

ut qualms because that person clearly hasn't swum in t

ten temptation lingers, urging m

seeing the true love

ng files. They contain sensitive matters,

ch time to discover w

it empty, aside from a nurse who

causing her to flinch a

th, probably even shitt

mumble with an effort to keep my cool

handing me Yolie's phone, I take

ck

entrance. "Skip the papers, Beavan! Send some men

he car. The tires screech as I zoom out, my

was up to something when he

ldn't have happened if I

niency, and I'll put aside the goddamn fact

n go over the same process. So that next time he'll know

villa, I found my men

thered in their stations, which m

rear, the ping-pong sound coming f

before my brother's g

able tennis, the glass barricade around the porch ser

uch longer, as I swing the d

ing-pong opponent, but I know it's for m

around, approaching me wi

eady, hungry for blood.

u here since half a quarter decade ag―" His wo

throwing his head back, snickering as

nto the spot between his shoulder and neck befor

nt sprints

re my woman

rows, still smil

holding him. "I swear I'll

endo yourself, while I got the tastier one.

ips. Now he looks better with blood o

Is. She?

you are?" East's snigger spurts blood over his face. His grey eyes glimmer when he thrusts his head up a

nt to price my

ore drop of his blood touches my skin,

s to your feet," he grunts, "then watch as depression eats you deep

dominance on East by working my

ting in pain as I lean d

as know no bou

one who played a Fanning for three years, dude! Y

I see what

like he al

w, suffering while I'm here trying

've seen a result. But no one has trie

has been a standing mess behind me. "Initiate strike

a toll on him. But it's harder for a man whose abducted

I yank him into the hands of two of my men before inst

ch, I watch the chaotic artistry of flying bullets

s are what keep sp

situation funny when my men p

he

feet. Strapped to a leather chair, he looks up at me with

h. Now tell me.

sinner, after al

t chuckle while

ast shrugs while I walk by him to stand at his back, massaging his shoulders

to me who the monster is between you and me." Ah. So that's where

opel him to spill, but he's s

him. His sons are importan

fore their index fingers slow

nto fists. Then he sits up, battling with th

me my phone. I find two

this is Oasis Lebnon and I'm really so

u! Why does this witch have an ul

. One that pastes on East's face

not the result of a smile as he asks with