OL

sali

your

rm, though my p

fting the man who wa

nning to leave to pres

n the heart? I don't

he murderous tendencies

he eventually caught me. He'd said h

to stare. From his straight brows and long l

added a dangerous allure

m bullet casing, smoothed down with brushed gunmetal, givin

s. Unden

it around his neck. Our breaths fanned ou

se. But no matter how many times I promised

nted

were stil

of his lips, and I heard him inhale a shu

, swallowing to smoo

lasped the pendant, brin

, his dangerous mouth

r the day you decide I'm mo

pped, gravel-rough, "this me

d. "Good. That

ocked. My h

strayed below my hips, cuppin

rn for your

trap his face, finger

ins, crashing into my

y other way?" I whisp

❦❦

R 1 -

WEEKS

sali

onsigliere, had said, pressing a heavy palm to my bac

ds stole the last of my strength. I sa

felt uncomfortable. I stepped back, shaking and sob

ge up memories of him from my childhood. All I recalled was a brooding man surrounded by

s blazed warmly and invitingly, as if waiting for its owner to w

o leave, when Marcus stopped m

hesitate to call," he said, his dar

to be in his fifties, maybe sixties. I was only

ht nod and l

ldhood bathroom, I gripped

died fifteen years before

ip

d pieces of my father's letter. A letter of apology, for signing a contract that I wa

ng it had made me used to it, just like the years of grief I carried for my mamma, and now for my pap

ger in the back seat had somehow managed to kill two of the most powerful mafia bosses in Ne

I felt like a new person, which was a necessary change. I woul

ten to protect me from the life he led. The mafia had

the signed contract I'd found hidde

nching the counter. Why send me to the

endent, Topolina." He'd said, only to

Did he know he was going to die? Or was it a deal made in despe

wirled until my

nger for the sake of "security." Just graduated at t

cure my fat

lead, especially not one raised out of stat

ed respect and silenced disrespect with the soft pull of a trigger. It always worked. I'd hea

oot, bluff, and negot

ad to survive