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Car Haven out in the yard as ti the sky the color of glowing coal

He could feel Michael’s eyes boring into hiar The stench of smoke made Carmine’s stomach turn Michael wheezed when he breathed, like he was constantly struggling to speak, but not a word had co coward

Corrado strolled over to Car in the scene outside

"You have to help her," Car hiht ahead "Do you reuely," he said "I was only six"

"I was outside your grandparents’ house after the funeral, and your mother sat down beside me Your mothershe never liked to co deal" He paused "When she gathered the courage to speak, she said those exact words: You have to help her"

Caraped at him "Haven?"

Corrado nodded "I told your mother it wasn’t my place, but I should’ve tried I owed her that much"

"You owed her?"

"Yes, I did, but why is irrelevant The only thing that matters is I never onna help?"

He cut his eyes at him "I vouched for her, didn’t I?"

"Yeah, you did, but" Car out at Haven in the yard "What about her mom? Can’t you help her?"

"I can’t help everyone There will always be so"

"I know, but this isn’t just someone," Carmine said "This is her family, like we’re fa the family card?"

"I, uh" Car it "Yes"

"You’re certain you want to do that?"

Corrado’s tone made Car to the , Corrado shook his head "The most I can do is let her live in irlfriend, I doubt it’s possible to dig myself in any deeper If I die, that’ll be what killselse is extra" Corrado turned to Michael, who still sat quietly in his chair "Any objections, Antonelli?"

Michael stammered He hadn’t heard a word of what they’d said "Uh, Iwell, I don’t know"

Corrado raised an eyebrow, the look on his face enough to make Carmine balk "What do you mean you don’t know?"

"I mean" He shook his head "Sure, it’s fine with ht, then Drop Haven off at the hotel and come back It should be settled by then"

Carmine finally made his way outside As soon as Haven spotted him, a cold sense of dread settled deep within her He paused a few feet away "I’ll give you afrom her eyes, but a radiant smile shined from her lips "You don’t kno irl, with the world at her fingertips"

Haven squeezed her tightly "I love you, Mao out there and live your life"

Her chest ached at having to leave her again "I miss you"

"I miss you too, but the world is a better place with you in it," her et away froain, but I’ll be happier knowing you’re out there living"

"But I can’t leave you here, Maain"

"Hush," she said sternly "Don’t worry aboutto object, but her ain "You found your place in the world Don’t let me hold you back from it"

Haven covered hera few steps back, she gave herfor the car

41

It was pitch black when Carht, the dry desert air still scorching He started toward the house, irritable and uncomfortable, but froze when the front door opened Miranda walked out, her eyes darting around wildly Even in the darkness, Carmine could make out a faint hand-shaped mark on her throat

"Who did this to you?" Car kill them"