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Vincent sat back and pushed his glasses up on his nose "Now?"

"Well, not right this damn minute, but soon"

"Depends on what you want it for," Vincent said "We could have oneprocess"

What was the point if she didn’t learn anything? "I’ one"

"Oh I suppose it wouldn’t be too difficult She’ll need some documents and a driver’s license for proof of identity, but I can pull soet her the stuff All you have to do is make sure she’s ready to test"

"Seriously?" That siet any ideas," Vincent said "You h school She wasn’t afforded the opportunity, but there’s no reason she can’t test for a GED if she wants one"

Haven glanced between them "GED?"

"Stands for General Education Diploma," Carmine said "Or General Equivalency Diploma I don’t know"

Corrado shook his head "General Education Development"

"Whatever, it could stand for Goddamn Endocrine Disorder for all I care," Carhed loudly "You just wished a horirl"

"Oh, we don’t want that," Carht ahead "Diploma?"

"Yeah," Carmine said "It’s just a piece of paper, but it et into soet one of those? A GED?"

"Yes," Carmine said

"If you want one," Vincent said "It’s up to you"

Haven blinked back tears The man who controlled her life--herwas up to her She tried to speak, but no sound came out when she opened her mouth, so she nodded instead

"It’s settled, then," Vincent said "I’ more and you’ll have to wait for the documents"

Vincent turned his attention to his laptop, the conversation over

Theherself at hied to keep his balance as she leaped up and wrapped her legs around his waist He clung to her tightly so she didn’t fall

Haven buried her face in his neck, her hands finding their way into his hair Car but stand there and hold her

Care when they made it to the kitchen, and Haven watched as he cut a slice for hirabbed a fork "Italian crea a bite "It is now"

Haven laughed as Dominic strolled into the roo without , Carmine hopped up on the counter as Dominic cut a massive piece for himself Soon the rest of the fa pieces and standing off to the side while Dr DeMarco grabbed a bottle of water He closed the fridge door and turned to look at the toward the cake

"Have you tried some, Dad?" Dominic asked

"No"

Do it out to his father "You should"

"I’d rather not," Vincent said, eyeing the plate with distaste

Doed "Your loss, but I tell you--this is the best cake I’ve ever had She’s a great cook"

"Yeah," Carmine said "Probably all the Italian in her"

He tensed when he realized what he’d said and noticed his father had the same reaction Vincent opened his water and took a drink as Car to say to shift the conversation elsewhere Before he could, Dohed "Must be You know damn well she has Carmine’s full-blooded Italian in her all the tihed as he choked on his drink Celia snorted, trying to hold back her a hiht his breath, looking at hi, but he just walked out

After he was gone, they burst into another round of laughter Haven looked at Carht you were half-Irish"

Car his head There was no way to explain it without eraveyard Vincent sat in his office, glaring at the plate on his desk The sht of taking a bite made his stomach churn

Maura always ered the ser barely fitting halfway through it The ainst his skin but not as cold as Vincent felt inside

After anotherat the cake, he picked up the plate and tossed it into the trash It hit the bottom of the eive it another thought He slipped the necklace under the neckline of his shirt again, concealing it, and picked up a stack of papers on his desk