the hotel. Instea

tly where Dante went when the walls closed in. The

inale of fireworks. Bright red letters

lebrate my return. Now, they hung in t

hipping containers, the air heavy wi

the edge of the pier, its head

to the edge of the dock, ga

feet away, his ha

it, Sofia!

er voice was theatrical, pitched perfectly to carry ove

a. She loved herself too much to die. She was ter

n who ruled by fear, and to

e cracking. "I'm not choosing her. I'm just... ma

left m

ack of crates, my nails di

s the

t," Sofi

orward and gra

because we need the encryption keys. Once I ha

d her in

e. He lifted her up, pressing her against the ho

I had worshipped, devour the w

reworks popped.

ded like

ey were trembling-not from fe

ago. This man was a stranger. A weak k

ront them. I

and walked back

gry. I had feared drowning ever since the accid

sound of the wa

it was washing

d dialed the number Luca

eady,"

e at the safe house. Bring the boy

ung

last sto