silence could screa

, but no one dared acknowledge the dark clouds hanging overhead. I got dressed slowly, my mind replaying eve

d to ac

ble self. Calm. Smooth. Powerful. The ma

nd glanced at me. "You

I said, reaching for the to

ead. "Anything

head. "It's

red longer than usual. As if he di

e burner phone I had hidden beneath the floorboard

Vasquez. Jan 2nd

and tried to breathe. My hands were shaking, heart racing l

nvelope. "Someone left this at the gate," she whi

fully. Inside wa

fat

ullet wound to the ch

t what made me

tanding in the s

nt

knew that profile. I'd seen it every day for the past f

been

n shallow bursts. I pressed the pho

send this to me no

ante himsel

I waited for h

s. I sat curled on the armchair, photo hidden in my book

up late,

dn't

and poured himself

owly. "Abou

d, before lifting the glas

not," I sa

tur

ha

word carried the weight of betrayal

ond. He didn't

, stepping closer. "You w

no anger. Only something sadder-like

the trigger," h

u were

es

, Dante? Why were you there that

aw clenched. "Because he

ha

e an hour before. Told me not to interfere. Said

's a

ly. "Your father and I-we had

te blurring faster than I could rebuild them.

epping forward. "Mor

was easier when I thought he was a monster

t

hing raw in him

man you thought

e cracking. "Don't tr

ached into his coat and pulle

ded it

t's

e years. I shouldn't have, but... I though

was my father's handwriti

d December 10, 2017-thre

, it wasn't an accident. A

dropped

ng," Dante

n between grief and

anger you're in. You need to know who rea

ed away, clutching the jou

me, I didn't kno

I had entered this h

o sure if he w

g to save me from a truth d