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“These e Some want them before puberty hits so they’re more childlike, others want them after puberty so they’re more sexually developed”

I nodded in understanding I’d been bought and sold a few tiest Brian had stopped touching otten older Father had been the same way But I’d never ht and sold based on e

“Two years ago, Stylianos was talking about having access to a boy who looked like Gio Gio would have been the right age for Marcus But it was never clear if Stylianos had Gio hiet Gio for the trade with Marcus”

“So you don’t know for sure if he has Gio anymore, or knohere he is?” I asked

Luca dropped his eyes and shook his head “We haven’t been able to find any recent chatter relating to a boy fitting Gio’s description Stylianos seeo”

When my parents had done that interview

Luca fell silent and took a few drags on his cigarette “It’s late, Aleks Get soarette a few times, then stood I jumped when he approached me, but with the pillar and porch rail at o

He paused and held aze for a moment He actually looked… hurt

I waited for hirab hn, but that need to protectas quiet as possible kicked in To my surprise, Luca stepped past me and opened the screen door “Go inside, Aleks”

I made oing to grab me But he didn’t When I was nearly in line with hi to fear from me, Aleks I swear it on Gio’s life”

With that, he carefully released the door soit open, then he turned and went down the porch steps and disappeared into the darkness

“He’ll be back”