CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

Lanaya frowned and then stared at her feet. She struggled to find anything at first, but once she did, her face sank, and tears began to drop from her eyes.

After a moment, she sat up, panting heavily. Salvetti returned after getting the first aid bag from behind the sink and assisted her in removing the sweater. She seemed numb and expressionless as she went through the motions. Her heartbreak was so profound that her body gave in to his touch without a fight.

"When asked for details, he said, "When I was thirteen, I went with my dad to one of our stores. The area was a mess after our opponents rained bullets down on it. We were looking for anything we could save as we moved around, but I took a mistake stride and fell on some blood. When I fell on my behind, everyone, even my father, laughed at me."

She gave him the eye roll.

"My father later told me they had laughed at their misfortune since they had been there. Who were they who mocked you? They wanted to boost their confidence by