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"We are family," Corrado replied "And you sahat I did to my only sister"

Carmine’s stomach lurched at the memory

By the ti sweat He took a deep breath, trying to relax as he followed his uncle to the door A young girl swiftly opened it for them She didn’t speak, nor did her eyes move from the floor

Once they were inside, she closed the door and positioned herself against the wall out of the way She couldn’t have been older than seventeen, a skinny girl with blonde hair and pale skin

Carht away Her body language, the way she slinked into the background like a chas, told him a story no words would ever say

The pressure in his chest nearly bucked his knees as he thought of Haven

"Carmine! Corrado!"

Sal’s voice drew Carodfather approached, his arlass of cha to any of theentle away frorimace as he pressed his lips to the back of it, near the

"Of course," Corrado said "Wouldn’t miss it for the world"

Sal raised his eyebrows, dra over Corrado’s shoulder "And your wife? Where is Celia this evening?"

"She’s feeling under the weather tonight," Corrado replied

"Ah, such a pity Send her my ishes, will you?"

Corrado nodded, and it took everything in Car with Celia She had just refused to spend her evening with theered there, knowing it was expected of hi as they arrived, and he always made a point to introduce them to Car with the game--pretend to like them, pretend to have fun, pretend there’s nowhere in the world he would rather be

Pretend he didn’t want to fucking punch somebody in the face

Each minute felt like forever, the two hours that passed an entire lifetiing as he showed off for Carroo tohis hts of money, power, and respect

He waited until Sal was drunk before slipping away frootten The sh the house, heading straight for the drink table He grabbed a sarding Corrado’s warning The burn lessened the pressure in his chest, unwinding the knots and loosening his taut ainst the table as he drank, his attention shifting to the front door Hours had passed, yet the girl still stood there, as silent and still as ever He studied her, wondering where she had co she had been trapped in Sal’s ho there before

She snuck a peek after a htly so her blue eyesher, and she dropped her gaze again quickly

"What’s your name?" Carmine asked curiously

She peeked up once hter sounded out behind hi liquor bottle and froze, the glass nearly slipping from his hand as he stared at the badly scarred face The familiarity took his breath away

"Her nalass of scotch

"Abby," the girl whispered, her voice shaking as she corrected hiing "You can call her anything you want"

Car about the man screamed vile, from his callous words to his horrid face "I prefer to call her by her na him carefully "DeMarco’s kid"

"Yes"

"Makes sense" Carlo brought his glass to his lips "She’s your type"

Anger swept through Car his feet to stay where they were He wouldn’t be provoked Not here, not now "Excuse me?"

"Ah, no reason to be ashamed," Carlo said "If it’s any consolation, I’ve always liked to sa Subht Not that any of theet that froe spiraled over "You son of a--!"

Before he could leap over the liquor table and pound his fists into the rew louder as a slew of guests filtered in They scattered through, so for the door while others made their way to the back den Carlo took a step back, tipping his glass at Car smile "Nice to officially meet you, kid I’ll see you around"

He sauntered away as Corrado approached, grabbing the glass fro it on the table "Your ability to listen is astounding"

"Do you knohat thathis hands into fists "He just--"