na

ng, moving through the motions wi

pack ev

ey, my sketchbooks, and the few pieces of jewelry my

ng else

e as apology gifts for his affairs. They were

gowns he liked to

the guest room at the f

idn't s

me home for

where

s wit

a Ro

ing with it the heavy

ly Dinner at the m

e was not

gh neck and long sleeves. Standing before the mi

d like

ay was full of armored SUVs, shining lik

into the

ying scent of cigars and roasted meat

he Greco Capo, drinkin

ered, his lip cur

he asked. "A wife should

voice devoid of emotio

d the di

s alread

head of the table, a d

to him, her hand resting

and cut too low for a family dinner. It was a s

rant, alive, a

evel associate, yet tonight she

harine sweet. "We were just wondering if you were goin

le went

iers, the wives-the

pity, most

imply took a sip of his wine,

ine,"

er end of the table, as f

s a tortu

d loudly at

his meat

s ear, her hand lin

e, I would hav

e thrown my

ed and demanded

hat they

atty Pr

ust ate

the texture

the plan form

ri

ded to get

king room and the women went

quiet hallway to

lace in this hous

n's ashes were kept in

is marriage, yes, but he was also the on

before t

d out m

e, matchin

I whispered. "I can't ke

rosary on t

door creaked o

dn't

els on the stone floo

e?" Sofia's voice ech

and turned

e, So

aid, walking closer. "Or it wi

a lot of th

reveal the ugly jealousy underneath. "You know

" I said

reaction in

ted the

he could use to cry in

ed up to

," she said. "You don't deser

ut and grabbe

I warned, my voice

," sh

a cruel, t

ew the urn onto

harp crack followed by the

shatt

coating the pristine floor, th

built this empire were redu

he mess, froz

n't look

oked e

es, she reached up and rippe

as she scratched her own che

ed her mouth

Dante!

onto the floor, ro

She's destroyi

rs burs

the first

he shatt

w the

on the floor, clutc

anding over them,

e went pale

s forehead pul

," he

hook the st

't a qu

s a v