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
Then Raphael looked at me, like he was forcing himself to do it. As if every movement required actual effort, "Gianna." I closed my eyes, "What?" I didn't even have enough energy left to be angry anymore. He sighed, "I don't think you're understanding something." A bitter laugh escaped me, "Oh,
He smiled faintly before looking back toward Mom. "They got more of her than me," he said. "Thank God for that." A small smile touched his mouth before fading. "I was a different man back then. I loved Isabella, but we were terrible for each other. Too young. Too proud. Too angry," his eyes drift
Gianna ━⊰ ❦ ⊱━ I didn't remember falling asleep. One second I had been sitting on the floor beside the bed. The next second, a hand touched my shoulder. I jerked awake so fast my neck immediately protested. For a moment I didn't know where I was, then reality crashed back into me. Mom. ALS. Eve







