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I introduce my sister to Aria, and she takes to her like a flower to the sun We stay for dinner and Teresa tellsI’ve lorying in hearing her voice again and seeing the excitement in her eyes

It’s dark by the tie numbers, and I promise Teresa and ain

As Luca navigates the streets of the north side of town back to the south side, h, I can’t help the smile that stays plastered on my face I look over at him when I feel his eyes on me

“I love you,” he says quietly, then brings the back of my hand to his lips

“I love you, too”

He looks back at the road, but I see the s his lips I look to the back seat of the truck and find Aria sleeping peacefully

A single thought corin widens

My life couldn’t get any ht in this moment

EPILOGUE

Luca

MY BOOTS THUMP heavily against the hard linoleuuard to a room filled with slass and a telephone on both sides I take the seat the guard indicates and wait Sweat beads on my forehead Not because I’h me It’s been a year since Theo was sentenced to life in prison for all the crimes he committed At the fifty-year mark, he’ll be up for parole, but by then, he’ll just be a frail old man

Sexual assault, sexual battery, rape, domestic violence, and two counts for attees he was convicted of There were several more The jury was only out for ten minutes when they came back with their decision

I’m reclined back inTheo toward lance at hier I felt toward hi as it was the day I found hi ready to rape her for the second time

He glares daggers at me when he takes his seat and yanks down the phone receiver then brings it to his ear I don’t grabto just stare at him I hate that we look identical

Dropping my boot to the floor, I pick up the phone