phin

ia to "recover," I heard her voice, a saccharine whisp

rs." She was sealing the lie, w

ust a profound, c

n appeared at my side. "The Don re

books and power. Donato sat behind a massive oak desk, the dy

olished wood. "He already signed them,

cuments. They were

xplained, his eyes cold and pragmatic. "He was distracted. The news of twins..." H

continued. "A new identity. A new life. The price is

offer. It was

that had been my cage: Seraphina De Luca. "You have my

ode in, his face smug and triumphant. He had put his m

the papers without a flicker of interest. He assumed

nature page toward him. "Ju

nd ambition, Alessandro signed the document that

this man so easily fooled, and felt a wave

aid, rising from my chai

he said automaticall

voice called out, weak and ne

ed for onl

alled to her, then turned t

d didn't look back. A feeling of abso