xa

me like a punc

I know about him, the impossible strength, the way he always shows up when I need sav

ous," I whisper, b

"I don't joke abou

ne-dry. "You're not just som

st. I'm not just part of the Mafia, Alexa. I run

. He's not just in it. He's leading it. A

des."This..this is unbelievable!

en between family." He tucks the gun back inside his jacket like we di

tever's between him and his father, it's not just about him remarrying, there's

, my thoughts a

ng to everything normal like it's

kground static. My brain isn't here, it's replaying Baron's

oak tree, I see it. A mot

rc

ve been together forever, even if distance has chipped at us lately, he's always been my sa

like a hug, like a remi

art lighter for the first time in days. I push open th

a desk, his hand cupping Daisy Simpson's ch

agging in my throat. Blood roars i

s ever, spotting me like he's been waiting for

thing's wrong. Like he didn't just

victory blazing in her eyes. She's

cracked. "Why would

phones already up, recording my humiliati

nce. "Stop being so dramatic, sweetheart.

lice clean

I choke out, fighting the

yone to hear. "Alexa, you're old news. Daisy li

ack into a kiss. She giggles against his mout

s with laughte

can't stay here f

ion blurred, my chest spl

ise dies down when I wanted to think, when my father

open the door, he

ro

ing out over the city. He glances at me once, his voic

say the same, you're new you should

I step closer. His eyes linge

o

right," he says fi

yline so he won't see me falling apart. "I

't polite curiosity, it's e

s bitter. "Marcus. He's cheati

I heard she was the

escapes me, even as my

er yours to begi

We've been together for years, Baron. Since the s

set. His next words are

rcu

xpression. He stands abruptly, stretches once,

I call,

he's

un sink, replaying every smile, every promise Marcus ever

m drained. I just want to go home, c

ps me cold. Students cluster tight

rward and

rc

lip split, barely able to hold himself up. His friends hover, tr

ened?" som

him," another whispers. "Beat hi

mutters. "Who knows wh

mind is already connecting the dots

wists. I don

who d

did