a's

he talk

ntil I was at

mean? Who is Dwan? Is it a person... or a pet?" M

n't re

his gaze, as though he were trying to pla

lifted his

d for

arity that made my breath hitch-like he kn

he st

he voice came from behind me. I didn't

rl

on the space instantly,

e warning threaded through it was sharp enough to cut sk

. "Who is she?" His voice didn't match his body

plied coolly, without pause. "Let's g

ord landed hard

me. The wheels of the chair whispered against t

to tell me to r

mattress like my body had suddenly doubled in

nd Dad loo

gone to t

en know whe

en a day.

ched m

ake my family and disappear. Leave Italy. Leave ev

moment, staring

man was h

e

f multiple cars sha

and rushed to t

rolled through the gates of the

ammed again

e these

not to leav

dn't

still f

was quieter now. The men who'd been

o

t wal

ed. They always did. And if there was anywhere I could gathe

ou

stopped

the corridor before I even saw him-low, measured, carrying

the house itself had carved him out of shadow. Two men fl

wled with movement. The black cars. Too many of them. Me

opened.

n excuse. I'd only

iled. I swallowe

ised

eated quietly, as if tasting the word. His gaze slid o

ructed to stay

aid, barel

I didn't know your instruc

pped tight

the men

s eyes d

en he

softly. "Defiance

a step

out how expensive it is."

cl

with smoke. His gaze dropped to my bare feet be

s don't apply t

pered. "I ju

gets people killed in houses like thi

s head slightly.

en beside hi

. "Waitin

said. "And

stutter

evenly. "Which means you're going to

ef

e, already moving

said over his

owed. Hesitation felt like a gamble, a

otless. No maids. No voices. Just sile

and handing it to one of the guards. "You'l

im. "I-I don'

mine. "You know ho

't a qu

es

s folding. "Enough for my guests. Nothing

the counter. I opened drawers at r

eat

toes. Olive

ld do

dy, unblinking. Not impatient. Not di

who they ar

fened.

he said. "It'll

first. Corrected myself. My fing

d in a

mildly. "Blood does

on bloomed on my tongue. The embar

p, accented, confident. Laughter without warm

e and cured meat the way my mother had taught me.

back. He approached the cou

nt, I brac

e nodd

said. After a beat, quie

ething unreadable

You'll speak only if spoken t

es

d L

tray half-lifted.

t time you mistake c

ce wasn

the wor

ed him into the room full of men who could d

e, something settled into pl

even punishme

uld demand more