a

the rumors hit the town at

bags on the table and told me a wealthy woman in a designer

s living with the groundskeeper," Dante said, s

ils digging so hard into the peeling Formica that a

ds, building the narrative t

e trail to the post office. As soon as the

the screen.

nd trembling slightly

u one last chan

as iron, sending

ait

per," he accused, his tone thick with

. "Did you disgust yourself

st. You were stupid for walking the wrong w

taste rising in my throat

ictures of you at Mia's birthday party. At the hotel.

went de

m removed," Franco demanded, his

old me about your syndicate

ack from those woods. If you do not come home tonight,

I will cite a violation of Omertà. In

but my being saved a crime?" I a

co argued. "You have been w

lephone," I remi

ent sile

back?" he aske

N

ceiver. "Then do not blame

tone of the line a ho

ild mushroom stew, and the cabin

table. "Why have you been in thes

d down at his bowl. "I made a m

htly. "I spent two years in prison. I beat a

econd, my eyes dropping

amp-two people who had trusted the w

come for you?" Da

sting on the table, a heavy sen

ng to come fo