THE MAFIA'S PRICE
The city opened before us like a living scroll.
We began in Yanaka, old Tokyo preserved in narrow lanes lined with wooden houses, small temples tucked between gardens, cats sunning themselves on low stone walls. We wandered hand-in-hand, breath fogging in the chill air, stopping at a tiny bakery where an elderly woman handed us fresh anpan still warm from the oven. Dante tore off a piece and held it to my lips; I laughed and bit down, red-bean filling sweet against my tongue. He watched me lick sugar from my thumb with dark, hungry eyes.