on hammered against my bruised ribs,

alled "Celebr

order-specifically, to mark her "recovery" from t

thick enough

lush leather booth, nursing a glass of i

the center,

g too loudly at his jokes, lighting

n his ear, draping herself over him to

announced, clapping her han

d. They were alread

her eyes gleaming with a

ent instan

h or

I wasn't going

, feigning disappoin

ping to a conspiratorial whisper t

for years. You bought your way i

atic effect, lettin

ruly love in this

opped d

s down with a d

oked

es. He expected me to confess an undying, pathetic devo

d to see

around

w the sycophants. I saw

the wind-swept ce

oto hidden dee

Luca's

N

he air, heavier th

syll

e devas

nce was

d awkwardly, shi

but his eyes... his eyes

aid, his voice low a

Luca," I replied, cal

you're

or Dare. I c

tle. "Oh, honey, don't be embarras

bing a bottle of whiskey and pou

it in on

nued, but the

ger of the stairs, but a brooding, d

d losing

owled when it

soldier shouted, trying to break

standar

phone on the ta

eaming. "It's proba

projected it onto th

shrine

ofia eating. Sofi

relieved. "The

Luca's cheek. "See? H

idn't

staring

in my mask. He wanted to see j

w not

tress with the detached disinterest

, checking Dante's watch on

n," Luca

N

too

slammed his hand on the tab

I sai

bed my

, Luca. You two d

out of th

s burning a ho

him

ht to catch

part of him that had ever mattered-th