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“Maybe Stylianos is a real name… Dante uses our father’s last naested

“It’s not,” Luca responded “Stylianos is the name of a saint known as the Protector of Children We’ve seen the fucker’s chat transcripts… he actually believes he and guys like hiuys like Marcus Parks knohat they’re doing is wrong and just don’t give a shit And then you’ve got guys like Stylianos who actually believes he’s doing God’s work by creating a world where adults and children are free to love one another He’s become quite a power player in the past few years and that’s made him be even more careful to stay in the shadows”

My knees alh me “Why me?” I asked “I’m… I’m no one”

“He’s fixated on you, Aleks There’s no rhyme or reason to it Our theory is that he saw you at some point and became fascinated with you He probably tried to buy you but whoever…”

Luca’s voice dropped off suddenly and I knehy

“Owned,” I said “Whoever owned me…”

“Right,” Luca ive you up It’s possible hewar… Marcus had a lot of money and there’s no proof that Stylianos is wealthy, so losing you a second tiot out you were still alive, it would have been like so with him He sees you as his and he wants you back… it’s like those celebrity stalkers who invent entire relationships with the fah they’ve never even actually talked to theet what they want, they can turn desperate… and violent”

I leaned heavily against the pillar as Luca spoke If theafter me

I’d have to coain

“Do you think this man has Gio?”

“We don’t know for sure Two years ago there was online chatter about Stylianos being willing to arrange a trade He knew of a boy that was closer to the age Marcus liked A boy with hair that was alht they seemed clear sometimes If Stylianos didn’t have Gio hio, Gio would have been thirteen That’s around the age Marcus acquired you, right?”

Ielse