a Kan

click of the heavy oak door. The old man's b

hall caught my eye. A man in a wheelchair. Parked in the shadows, far from the light and

caught in

cel

Don, during a botched deal with rival associates. The bullets had shattered his spine. He'd been relegated to the sidelines of the f

who had unearthed the truth. It was Marcello who had used his hidden network, his underestimated intellect, to systematically destroy B

tude, and a dawning, intense curiosity. In my first life, I had been like

ness. The sharp intelligence in his dark, watch

eyes met. For a moment, I saw surprise in his gaze-qui

. A creature from a different, brighter universe. I had no reason to be here, in h

took a few slow, delib

le, defensive gesture. This was a man accustomed to being i

yet. Instead, I held his gaze, dipped my head in a small, formal nod, and g

ered. His dark eyes widened slightly. It was clear that no one-least of all m

t was enough for tonight. I turned and walked

burning, questioning gaze that followed me until

cly shamed me. Upstairs, I had sought him out to offer a moment of silent, unexpected grace. The contradiction was a hoo

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