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"Today," he said "Today makes five years"

June first, the anniversary of the day Vincent hit rock bottom Most would assume bottom hen his wife died, or the year after when he’d been unable to face his children, but rock botto his eyes, he could still feel the hot air blowing in his face as he sped down the desolate highway His hands shook, his body desperate for rest, but there was no way he could have stopped He’d gone too far to give in

His cell phone chiht illuorously at the sound, adrenaline surging through hi

For twenty-six hours he’d been driving, blatantly disregarding the code, but he wasn’t thinking of the future He wanted vengeance He had walked inside that house in Lincoln Park the day before and stood in front of thethe four words that pushed him forward "Frankie Antonelli did it"

Frankie Antonelli did it

The closer Vincent got to the secluded ranch, the rew A few hts of a car flashed his way Vincent slowed doatching as the fae consumed him

Frankie Antonelli did it

Vincent hts flared in front of hi Vincent’s approach Frankie could have outrun hi, it was too late Vincent ra the back corner of the car His chest sla as he painfully gasped for air

Tires squealed, followed by a loud crash as Frankie’s car flew into so out of the desert Vincent swerved before cohway, the car still intact and on all four wheels S Vincent’s eyes water He rubbed his face, his vision blurring, and he took a deep breath as he grabbed his pistol fros shook as he put weight on them

Frankie Antonelli did it

Frankie’s car was totaled, the front end demolished fro fro under his feet Frankie’s legs were crushed under the front of the car, while his wife, Monica, sluer seat Blood poured fro back at Frankie, Vincent could see tears strea down his face "Frankie Antonelli did it," he said, his voice oddly calht up the gun, slae By the tinizable and Vincent’s hands were coated in blood

He took a few deep breaths, trying to ignore the pain in his chest as he stepped back froe Gas pooled underneath the car, the odor of it strong Vincent scoured through his pockets and pulled out the beat-up pack of Marlboros There was one cigarette left He lit it, feeling the burn as the ss The nicotine soothed his nerves

After a few drags of the cigarette, he flicked it toward the car, igniting the puddle of gas

Vincent cli down the driveway The place appeared uninhabited, but that wasn’t true People were there, and he knehere to find theh, Vincent stepped inside the stables He’d take the girl He’d do it for Maura He’d make it all better He’d rescue her from filth

He paused when he saw her asleep on a tattered old mattress in the corner stall, the stench of et a better look and saw her clutching a book in her arms So small and frail, she looked helpless, but Vincent wasn’t fooled

The bloodlust rose back up, desperation hitting hiun and pointed it at her head, no hesitation as he pulled the trigger Confusion hit hi scream, no blood

His Smith & Wesson had never failed him before

The sound of Corrado’s voice pulled him from the vicious hed "Yes"

"As long as you realize you’ll have to kill again, we shouldn’t have a problem"

"Thank you," Vincent said as Corrado stood to walk out

"Don’t thank ht die"

34

Carh the front door Corrado surveyed the like he always did, and Haven’s head went down, her gaze focusing on the wood floor Car her to hi at hi "Car, every exhale co, he leaned toward her and frantically searched for the right words to say What could destroy the fear built up fro the uy," Car"

Yeah, that wasn’t it

Haven gripped Car into his skin

"This is irlfriend, Haven," Carmine said "I don’t know if you’ve actually met her before"

Everyone stared at hirip on him loosened as Corrado turned to her "No, I haven’t had the pleasure"