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I could stay with Papa, but I know he’s going to finish the hile looking th

rough old photo albums I don’t have the heart for it All those pictures of Papa, Ma in Sicily, Rome, Paris, and Barcelona, while I’m not yet in existence, or at best, a baby in a stroller It just reminds me of what I missed

So, I give my father a kiss and offer to help Greta with the dishes, knowing she won’t let e to retrieve Nessa’s Jeep

I’m back at the Griffins’ mansion by 3:00 in the afternoon

I don’t expect to find anybody ho on fa her influence over dozens of charities and boards, or else strategically socializing with the wealthy and influential wives of Chicago’s top citizens Fergus, Callu hours, and Nessa has classes almost every day — either at Loyola, or at Lake City Ballet

Yet, as I enter through the side door into the kitchen, I hear two male voices

It’s Callu on the barstools in their shirtsleeves, jackets draped over the backs of their chairs

I don’t knohat they’re talking about, but I’ht of the brutish boxer, who I no is named Jackson Howell Du Pont Callum met him at school, in his Lakeside Academy days Jack is one of the many, many descendants of the Du Pont faunpowder, then later by inventing nylon, Kevlar, and Teflon

Unfortunately for Jackie boy, the Du Ponts were a little too successful at spreading their name and their seed, because there’s now about four thousand of theh scratch to pay for his fancy private school education, without the usual acco Callu his back, and occasionally breaking kneecaps on his behalf Like he did to my brother

Fresh froht of Sebastian’s dark circles and unhappy srab the closest piano wire and wrap it around Jack’s fucking throat Calluuard on the back burner, away frouess he didn’t expect me home so early

“What the fuck is he doing here?” I snarl

Callum and Jack have already stood up, startled by my sudden appearance

“Now, Aida,” Callu “That’s water under the bridge”

“Is it?” I snarl “Because Sebastian is still hobbling around While this punch-drunk fuck boy is apparently still on your payroll”

Jack rolls his eyes, sauntering over to the fruit bowl on the counter and picking out a nice, juicy apple