LOGINI memorized every word, nodding. "Make sure, there is no alcohol, no driving, no strenuous exercise. No situations where she could hit her head again." He tapped the folder. "If she vomits repeatedly. If she becomes difficult to wake. If one pupil becomes larger than the other. If she becomes co
Vincenzo watched them carefully, "You wanted this?" "No." "You wanted to spend your nights around men like Cole?" "No." "You wanted debt collectors, guns, blood, and basements?" All three shook their heads harder, "No..." "No, sir..." "We never wanted this..." For a long moment, Vincenzo sim
Mine didn't. To me, guilt belonged to the individual responsible for the act. To Gianna, guilt spread through grief until it touched everyone left standing. Eventually... It would reach me. She wouldn't see a calculated investigation. She would see the man who allowed her entire world to disap
Adriano let out a laugh, he bent over, slapping his knee, his eyes bright with a dark, twisted amusement as he watched Cole flop around in the dirt. "Oh, look at him go!" Adriano mocked, "He’s doing the dance! Look at the moves on him! Hey, Don Capone said he’d spare your life, Mercer! He didn't sa
"No! She forced me! She—" "She forced you to get a front-row seat to our sister's blood?" Adriano laughed again, "You’re a real hero, Cole. Maybe we should put your face on a plaque. 'Here lies Cole Mercer: He was too scared to be a criminal and too stupid to be a friend.'" Cole started to sob, hi
Raphael ━━ ⛓ ━━ Adriano’s arms were capable, but they were not mine. I stepped forward before his arms could even settle into a permanent hold. I took her from him, sliding my hands beneath her knees and behind her shoulders, careful not to disturb the bandage wrapped around her head. I kept h
I looked at Raphael, and he looked just as shaken as I felt. He went completely stiff, his jaw tightening until a muscle pulsed in his cheek. He wouldn't look at me. He shifted in his seat, suddenly putting distance between our bodies, his movements jerky and uncomfortable. "So," he said, his voice
"The way you’re trying to read this is a linear trap," he said, "Your brain doesn't move in lines, Gianna. It moves in spheres. You're trying to force a 3D mind into a 2D space. It’s a sensory overload, not a lack of intelligence." He shifted his weight, and I felt the heat of him radiating through
The flashlight beam whipped around instantly, blinding me. "I can help with that," I said, as I walked right up to him and pulled the flashlight out of his mouth. His mouth stayed open for a second, as he looked me up and down. The beam of light was now in my hand, shaking just a little, but h
Just then, the door swung open and Silvio himself walked in. As he walked past my chair, he reached out and ruffled my hair, messing it up completely. "G-man! Good to see you're alive." Silvio slumped into his chair next to Raphael, flashing me a big, goofy smile. "Hi, Silvio," I said, smoothing







