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Vincent took a long drag "I tried to murder Haven"
That response made Carht I killed the Antonellis, I tried to kill her, too My gun jaht yourher ether before anyone else got hurt"
Carround and stomped it out He wasn’t sure whether it was the smoke or his father’s ad into his pocket, he pulled out the flask and took a drink, trying to dull the pain Vincent watched hi his father soarette down and took it He gri a second swig
"I’ve failed you a lot, withheld when I should’ve been honest, and it’s to the point where all I have left to give is the truth," Vincent said quietly He looked like a broken man, utterly defeated "I remember the face of every person I’ve killed I see theo, and I know they aren’t there, but the ers The fear, the anger, the heartbreak--it follows me everywhere I remember the way your ht in the alley"
"So do I," Carmine said "I remember the sound of her screams"
Vincent looked at Carmine curiously, apprehension in his eyes He had never talked to hiht, the memory too painful to verbalize The only person he had told was Haven, but standing there with his father and taking in his broken expression, it felt necessary
Sighing, Car his hand through his hair nervously as he recalled detail by detail what happened that fateful night Fro up in the hospital, every ounce of pain cah his words
"I can’t reh," Carine the killers hundreds of tiun, I don’t think he ever looked atdistorted"
"Did they say anything?"
"Shut her up! Do it quick! That’s it"
Vincent sat quietly and took it all in, his head bowed "You alht, and the whole ti behind a Dumpster"
"It wasn’t your fault," Carmine said "The only people to blaht"
Vincent cleared his throat "I suppose you’re right I soh"
"Yeah, well, Mo bullshit," Car an amused look from his father "Well, not in those words, but you knohat I o, it is what it is I mean, often this past year I’ve wondered if we could’ve saved Haven a different way, so I could be with her wherever she is"
"New York," Vincent said as he trailed off
Carmine eyed him curiously "New York?"
"I don’t know exactly where, but she’s in New York soed the corner of his lips She went to New York like they had talked about "The point is, I’ve learned it’s senseless to wonder I did what I did, you did what you did, and we are where we are We just gotta do e gotta do"
"You know, you rown up quite a bit this past year"
"Yeah, well, I don’t think Corrado would agree with you," Carmine said "He threatensfor the day he catches laryngitis and can’t say, ‘I’ll kill you,’ so he just does it instead"
Vincent laughed, shaking his head "He’s threatened to kill me before I’ve threatened to kill plenty of people, too, like Haven It’s hoe’re taught to control people, so it beco except death"
"You know, it’s fucked up how nonchalant you are talking about killing the girl I love"
"You still love her?" he asked curiously
Carardless of all this bullshit, she’ll always be bird," Vincent echoed "Why do you call her that?"
"Uh, I don’t know Kinda just came out one day and stuck"
"Your mother would’ve loved that nicknaes, but in the subirds used to swarm the tree in the backyard Maura loved them; the way they could hover and fly backward and never tire She was convinced the souls of the pure and innocent lived inside of them, and that’s why they defied nature"
Before Carmine could respond, his phone chie:
The docks, Third and Wilson
Caro"
Vincent nodded as he lit another cigarette, not appearing surprised, and o inside?" Carmine offered "It’s still your house"
"No, I’ to sit here for a few minutes and then be on my way"