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When I’e walk-in closet and pull on soonheadphones so I can submerse myself fully in my audiobook, and open my Toon Blast app

I finally beat the level, but by the time that happens, my eyelids are heavy and I can barely concentrate on my book, so I take my headphones off, set the Sleep Timer on my book for ten minutes, and roll over onof serial killers and my prince who comes to steal me away

2

DeLuca

Ferro Fetulli One of the highest-ranking men in the Cosa Nostra and he has called on me to carry out a job He and I have never met, but his henchmen are about to introduce us after I received his proposition froer yesterday All I know about themore I don’t attend The Ruin events or socialize with others in this world It’s not my style

They sought et jobs done under special circumstances And that first time, it was personal They kneouldn’t turn it down And once I got that first taste of taking someone’s life, it was all over In Desolation, where crime is prevalent, deaths andbecause they just don’t have the manpower to bother with all of it But when one of these special cases come up, when it’s evident authorities would be called in because of the hit being of a higher caliber, that’s when they call me to make sure it all looks like the “victim” did it to themselves

I use the term victim loosely, since everyone in The Ruin knows I don’t accept jobs taking out the innocent I don’t hurt the good

Who am I?

I’ist in the state of New York I cure the good by day and end the bad by night I could lie and say there’s a deep, dark reason I’er days—but no I simply aer than the law

Walking into the abandoned building in the slums, I’m met with the stench of death Clearly, this is a place they use for the deadlier side of their business The sound of leaking water echoes in the space, as well as my boots as I take a few steps inside Thebetween both doors, and this must alarm the henchmen of my presence

“Dr Randazzo, Fetulli is ready for you Follow reets His size should inti several inches above ht, but it doesn’t I don’t spook easily You can’t in this business I follow his retreating footsteps, taking ina laser focus on who and what is around ainst you in this world

Running a hand through my thick mane of dark hair as we enter the room, my eyes land on who I assu a leader in this kind of world, one would think he’d look big enough to defend himself, but clearly that doesn’t matter, since he’s surrounded by nearly half a dozen arht in his sleek leather shoes, barely a hundred sixty pounds, I would guess It dawns on ht need my services

“Ah, DeLuca The infaend here” He spreads his ar room as if it’s filled with all the members of The Ruin

I give a cocky grin, a hint of sarcas What job are you calling on me for?” I don’t care if he is a leader We have no issues, and we have no rapport, so there’s no need for small talk

“Well, fearless, I see I ad me over, as if to assess what to do next, he narrows his eyes when I don’t break eye contact He’s sizing nificant difference in physique, I don’t blame him

“Can’t be afraid in The Ruin Isn’t that thesure I keep my tone… friendly, if you could call it that He doesn’t react right away, taking ahis hands in boisterous glee