urs, 10,080 minutes. Still n

but I don't like

ce and false promises of repayment, I already knew he wouldn't retur

angle. Another drink, another bet, and another st

bluff, I

ep amber catching the light like flame. The late afternoon sun bled through the window

lent but fidgeting. He always fidg

aid finally, his voice low. "You're

rrection. He's being invited. I'm simply

ou threaten him? Beat him? He has not

He has something, o

uciano, we've got bigger problems th

y smile fading. "D

sed. "

some girl.

bsessed. Maybe I am, but I've never wanted any

his," Alessandro sai

ull, the burn crawling down my thro

e door opened and Lorenzo stepped in, fla

ut up a fight - until he saw th

uttered, settin

r. The stink of fear and cheap whiskey clung to him like sweat. His eyes darted ar

. "This-this isn't necessary

walked toward him slowly, the click of my

mly. "You made a bet which you lost

get the money. I sw

voice flat. "Trying to win bac

maybe if I

amused sound that d

't climb through the cracks of whiskey bottles or f

ease... please don't kill me

"That's where you're wrong. You have one thing left. Th

ed, but no s

" I wh

e silence that followed was s

t her. She's just a girl. Sh

you. How she carries your debts and shame like they're her own. Do you think she'll survive the next man who c

ing. Pity has long since been buried b

u can't take her

ser. "I can.

eyes red, li

. It's either that or I take something else

. One of my men stepped in with a c

one minute

ce of paper. Then, slowly - with hands that tremble

I straightened and

Let her know I'l

erst

ing out into the dusky horizon. The city below was alive,

Mor

ould soon