that?" I snapped, staring at the b

s perfect for the engagement party, Sera. Strong. Bold.

nto the chair. "I don't want to walk in there at al

t steady big brother look. "Sera, enough. The party is in

mean get ready to smile next to the man who ghosted me for tw

e hurts you, I'll put a bullet in him myself. Alliance or no

tly behind them, eyes sharp. "You three promised you'd alwa

uding you. Alessandro isn't the same kid anymore, but he's st

ight. "Just leave me alone for a wh

ownstairs if you need us." They finally

t the red dress. My mind drifted back, pulling me i

-

d the estate. Sweat stuck my hair to my neck. Alessandro, also twelve

ice serious but warm. "If you drop

ly, swept my legs, and pinned me gently to the ma

," he wh

breathing hard. "One

nd in his. "Listen, Sera. No matter what happens, I'll always be your shield. You h

nd tight, my hear

piece of wood right there. A little sparro

-

the old sketch I'd drawn of him years ago. Twelve years old Alessandro with that half s

emory crashed in

-

nt to train again. But he wasn't there. I waited for hours. When I finally went to the main house

to comfort me, but nothing filled the hole. The

-

he sketch to the fireplace. The flames danced low, waiting. I h

d, then you disappeared. Now they want m

tched his face burn away, turning to ash. Smoke rose, sting

ck sounded

alled softly. "This just arrived for you

She handed me a thick black envelope se

ed the door again. My name was written

nt announcement. Formal. Cold. It listed the date, tim

. This was real.

n safety when I was a little girl visiting their est

tion tight, the edges

ca was coming ba

't be the naive girl wh