a

from an exhausted sleep by the rel

ssed notifications in the enc

agged me in

dent voice vibrated against the glass of the cof

arch to something a little more upbeat. Your choic

taring blankly

the exact melody my parents had danced to t

the original, scratchy vinyl recording jus

a knew exactly what

ante's response in the c

a singl

ea

tant disrespect without

nother messag

rn mob aesthetic. Dante and I will hand

ple message of agreemen

his union was

private chat

morning-a brief, sterile confi

asked why I left t

violently in my

s video-c

keeping my expressio

her blonde hair perfectly styled

dding morning," she announced, flashing a smug, sel

hard, bitter l

my own trusted peo

hout missing a beat. "Mine are better. B

before I could even

he coffee table, the dull

ever actually

lways y

rotect her from the bloody, mer

ry single Family gathering, showering

rk, predatory eyes tracking her reckless movements w

talk to Dante

stant presence in our priva

it with a cold, u

y bonding' and told me I

downward slice of his hand, a gesture that

the window, looking out

n glass all by myself after Sienna

asked if my hand

ver asked if

phone and dia

ease," I said the spl

for four years," the civilian land

the tips of my fingers, where they gripped the phone, had

because it was exactly three blocks f

sperate for h

ven a fraction

lling empty suitcases from the

locked with a sha

alked into my pent

a mocking symbol of his unr

o the living room, a wide,

" Sienna said, tossing her designer bag carel

handle of a suitcase so tigh

vily fortified estate was meant s

orway, his hands casual

't mind," Dante said indulgen

tely, arrogantly confid

I always

e and stood up straight

ed, my voice cutting through th

na f

tears immediately welled u

tire postu

shed, instantly replaced by the

led. I swallowed against a sudden dryness in

ice dropping to a low, resonant timber that seemed

was supposed to marry

oice rising with years of suppressed

ntarily stunne

a dangerous muscle

en sob and stepped closer t

softly. "I won't move in. I

tive arm around Sienna's waist,

eyes dark with unju

heart over a meaningless piece

's legitimate fronts," I pointed out, my hands shaking with adre

ion turned outr

ep toward me, droppin

e barked, the lie slipping easily from

nd on his chest, and I watched the rigid li

anor softened insta

k at me, his

te," Dante declared, leav

em for a long,

cream. I d

ling the last thread

ked over to my suitcase, unzippi

na asked cheerfully, her dramatic tears i

nte replied, his voice

behind them. I stood alone in the silence of my half-pa

And it had cost me ev

s time to stop fighting for a place