LOGINI memorized every word, nodding. "Make sure, there is no alcohol, no driving, no strenuous exercise. No situations where she could hit her head again." He tapped the folder. "If she vomits repeatedly. If she becomes difficult to wake. If one pupil becomes larger than the other. If she becomes co
Vincenzo watched them carefully, "You wanted this?" "No." "You wanted to spend your nights around men like Cole?" "No." "You wanted debt collectors, guns, blood, and basements?" All three shook their heads harder, "No..." "No, sir..." "We never wanted this..." For a long moment, Vincenzo sim
Mine didn't. To me, guilt belonged to the individual responsible for the act. To Gianna, guilt spread through grief until it touched everyone left standing. Eventually... It would reach me. She wouldn't see a calculated investigation. She would see the man who allowed her entire world to disap
Adriano let out a laugh, he bent over, slapping his knee, his eyes bright with a dark, twisted amusement as he watched Cole flop around in the dirt. "Oh, look at him go!" Adriano mocked, "He’s doing the dance! Look at the moves on him! Hey, Don Capone said he’d spare your life, Mercer! He didn't sa
"No! She forced me! She—" "She forced you to get a front-row seat to our sister's blood?" Adriano laughed again, "You’re a real hero, Cole. Maybe we should put your face on a plaque. 'Here lies Cole Mercer: He was too scared to be a criminal and too stupid to be a friend.'" Cole started to sob, hi
Raphael ━━ ⛓ ━━ Adriano’s arms were capable, but they were not mine. I stepped forward before his arms could even settle into a permanent hold. I took her from him, sliding my hands beneath her knees and behind her shoulders, careful not to disturb the bandage wrapped around her head. I kept h
And suddenly I understood why everyone had been acting strange. Why Salvatore looked at her the way he did. Why Vincenzo insisted on taking her to the doctor himself. Why Claire checked on her constantly. Why everyone seemed careful around her. God. God. God. My stomach lurched. Mom's voic
"Jules." "What?" My little sister glared at Raphael and then looked back at me, "If she murdered somebody, I want details." Mom laughed softly and the sound pulled my attention toward her. She sat at the table with her tea in both hands, smiling at Jules with so much affection it made my chest ac
Gianna ━⊰ ❦ ⊱━ I didn't want to go downstairs. That realization hit me the second I opened my eyes. The room was quiet. Morning sunlight spilled through the curtains, painting soft golden lines across the floor, but it did absolutely nothing to improve my mood. I rolled onto my back and stared
Dr. Walker smiled faintly, "I think you're a man who spent thirty years speaking a language he never realized he was speaking." I sank back into the chair, and I stared at the floor between my shoes. For years, I had operated under the assumption that I was different, not better, not worse, just d







