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Haven frowned "It doesn’t feel like it anymore"
"That’s because you’re scared," she said, wrapping her ar She stroked Haven’s hair with her hand, just like her er The ache in her chest intensified "Neither of you see It’s healthy and keeps us safe, warns us of danger When you stop fearing things, you stop fighting You lose motivation You lose perspective, and you never want to do that"
A throat cleared behind the Corrado leaned against the door fra?"
Haven dropped her gaze to the floor She hadn’t seen him since they had shown up He had remained upstairs, secluded from the family "No, sir"
"Of course you are," Celia said "We were having girl talk"
"So I heard," he said "I thought we agreed you would stay out of it"
"And I thought you knew me better than that," Celia replied "You really can’t be that dense, Corrado"
Haven gaped at Celia, stunned anyone would speak to hi you’d listen to co in other people’s affairs--"
"Only gets people hurt," she said, cutting him off "I know I’ve heard you say it a million times, but they’re just kids, for heaven’s sake"
"They’re adults," Corrado said "What they choose to do in their private lives is none of our concern"
Celia laughed dryly "None of our concern? Have you forgotten you vouched for her?"
"That doesn’t lance that sent a chill down her spine She had never heard him raise his voice before
Celia narrowed her eyes "No, but it’s your job to help her"
"I knohat my duties are," he responded coldly "I’ll watch her"
"Like Maura atched?" Celia raised her eyebrows "You told ood it did then, huh?"
"Maura was not ht," Celia responded, "but Haven is yours"
Corrado stood silently and stared at her, his expression blank Celia stared right back, her gaze unwavering The tension in the rooeted, feeling dizzy as the blood rushed furiously through her
"I, uhI probably shouldn’t be here," she whispered, turning for the door Sheout, the sound of it halting Haven in her tracks
"Stop"
She turned around as Corrado stepped into the foyer, glancing at her briefly and nodding before heading for the great room She watched hi slowly behind
The sun started to peek over the trees outside, but the room remained eerily dim Haven was as quiet as a corpse as she took a seat on the couch and picked at her brittle fingernails, purposely avoiding Corrado’s powerful gaze
"Do you knohat itthe tense silence that quickly enveloped the roo at him, Haven nodded stiffly "Carmine said it et in trouble, but I swear I never will"
He held his hand up to silence her before she could really start pleading her case "It’s more than that It’s not just what you say and who you say it toit’s what you do, too People like me--we vouch for others every day Associates, friends, fa us any har, itout there in the world, by being alive, and frankly, maybe we shouldn’t be either Your lifeover my head, so there are some limitations because of the circumstances"
Haven tensed "Limitations?"
"Yes, limitations," Corrado said "It’s better than the alternative"
"What’s that?"
"Going to stay with Salvatore," he said "Or death I’m not sure which you’d find worse, but neither would be pleasant So limitations it is Besides, everyone has them Most people are ruled by petty laear your seat belt, don’t take what’s not yours Catholics follow the Cohbor’s wife or take the Lord’s name in vain Nuns commit themselves to celibacy, lawyers and priests rely on confidentiality, and we, Haven, take a vow of silence and loyalty We all live through the sa, Corrado tinkered with his wedding ring Haven wasn’t sure what she was supposed to say, so she said nothing He continued after a ive the benefit of the doubt Our devil shoots first and asks questions later, if at all One look, one wrong uilty They’ll carry out your punishment before you even know you were accused Our devil shows no ot that?"