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Vincent clenched his hand into a fist at the subtle dig about Maura "What about Dad? Did he deserve it?"

"As oomahs as your father had? I’ as it did"

Vincent would never understand his mother’s callousness So when she obviously didn’t appreciate his company

The ambulance pulled away from Sunny Oaks, and Vincent’s eyes followed it to the corner in the stor as he took in the dark SUV parked less than a block away He hoped he is, but his instincts told hiested they atching hi followed

"Are you listening toto hiss and take time off my life That’s probably what you want, isn’t it? For me to die? Then I wouldn’t be a burden anye"

Vincent sighed exasperatedly "What do you want frolanced at his watch, fresh out of patience "I should go Do"

Gia narrowed her eyes "Who are they?"

"You knoho Do to keep calm, but he had had about as randson, and Tess is his girlfriend"

"Is she Italian?"

"No, she’s Ae"

"Scottish? At least that’s better than the Irish What about that other boy of yours? Does he have an Italian girl?"

Vincent walked over to histoward the door without answering

The week flew by in a blur as Haven and Car those days, when it was just the two of them, that barriers stood in their way It see fluidly within the confines of the house; but the outside world was closing in on the to burst, but the problem was they didn’t knohen, where, or hoould come down It could be an inconvenient drizzle or a flood that washed everything away There was no way to prepare for the storm when they couldn’t predict ould happen when it struck

It was Friday afternoon, and they were in the faether on the couch, legs entwined as she lay in his arorously sucking on the flesh of her neck

The sound of Haven’s light moans was cut off abruptly when the alarm beeped and the front door slammed Panicked, Carmine sat up as his father stormed into the room Instinctively, he shifted his body protectively in front of Haven’s as Vincent clenched his hands into fists "My office Now"

"Who?" Carmine asked tentatively as his father walked away

"You"

Carmine stood and pulled Haven to her feet "Go to "

Haven followed hier and she couldn’t keep up with his stride Car the door open without bothering to knock Vincent was hunched over his laptop, typing furiously away at the keys "They’re coue statement "Who?"

"Ed McMahon and the prize patrol Who do you think is couard "Feds?"

"I wish" Vincent shook his head "It’s probably only a , but nowe’re not that lucky today I got a call a few o that Sal hopped a plane to co I don’t knohy, and I have no idea what they want"

"What does that mean?"

"I don’t know" Vincent opened desk drawers and rifled through files "I’ it’s unexpected business, but it could be one of you they’re after, so I need you out of here in case Corrado doesn’t think you should be anywhere without protection"

"I have a gun," Carun does you as a nobody They could kill you and no one would know unless you had one of us by your side"

Vincent’s phone vibrated against the desk, and he held his hand up to silence Carmine He answered it forYes, sirI’ll be here"

He hung up, tossing the phone down as he eyed his son peculiarly "Pack sos"

Haven paced the floor in Car attentively for noises fro No screa No coination as she conjured up wild scenarios--none of theh her as a door slammed on the floor below Footsteps hurried up the stairs as her heart thu through her

The door flung open, sla, and Carht for his closet and threw things around, tossing two duffel bags onto the bed "Pack soet out of here, Haven"

Haven felt woozy She wanted to ask as happening, desperately wanted him to explain, but she knew the ansould terrify her She staggered to the bed and sat down as Carh her ain She swore she wouldn’t follow Car there?" Carhts swirled s and held his hand out to her "Let’s go"

The ue, her o with him

They hurried downstairs and Car to close the front door in his haste Unlocking the car doors, he tossed the bags into the back and et in As soon as they were settled, Carear The tires spun and gravel sprayed as he sped away froot on the highway, her voice cracking and sto happen?"