rated the kitchen, barely masking the acrid

as in m

ai

pot, wearing an apron that looked r

she said, her voice saccharine.

hate

ole. I dese

my arms crossed over my

ooking," I said coo

ainst the rim. "Dante loves my arrabbiata. He used

eyes glinting with a s

your cooking. Does

kn

airs, eaten in the cold dining room

alked i

s lip from where I had

ed, the lines aro

ls good,

't look

o the counter wher

attention like a cat

said, offerin

too

aste

" he g

d times," Sof

ke I was

in my

y," I said, tu

an order, low and vibrating with

eat glass,

olding the pot

please. I

stum

ormance worth

ght on absol

rched

ng red sauce fle

ght a

it c

scream

't move fa

ainst my legs, soaking in

the pain sharp, sca

. "Oh my god!

you

vicious, so clear

before the pot ev

hed to

was he r

olding her wrist lik

o sorry! My w

loor, clutching

room

d to let

eyes ro

nt l

s a g

te

le

voice wa

t stop a

uce, ignoring Sofia's cries, a

e bellowed at the st

of the kitchen,

ening to the frantic rhythm

s ter

r

moment, I let mysel

e living room and l

ssors!"

t my jeans awa

gentle, yet s

e muttered. "You

arrived min

were second-degree, painf

as the doctor was

ling beside me

ppened?"

it at me,"

e bl

ha

raspy. "She looked me in t

hardening as the fear receded

e tripped.

ee," I said. "I heard her, Dante.

a hand ove

h the paranoia. She is a grie

e!" I cried, t

ts to re

back. "She is alone! Why can't

lous. It i

cut deeper t

ht I was

t I was t

ainst the cush

t," I w

le

t o

at me for a

rned and w

go to chec

to his

dri

is crazy, j

in my leg throbbing

never b

the victim, I would al

at the

sn't just a

a nec

ed to

she kil

re I ki