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Mr Di Pasqua had refused tohome when his wife passed away; he wanted to live out the rest of his days in the neighborhood they'd made a life in Vivian loved the romance of that choice Maybe someday she'd find her own true love and, if she was lucky, he'd be as devoted as her favorite customer

The old ht him the coffee and si, he leaned in and took a deep whiff of the pastry, sighing in contentment "Just like my nonni's"

Yes, there was safety in routine, Vivian told herself as she began to serve the steady streaave each of these people so up The familiar tart burst of blueberries in a fresh muffin, the buttery sweetness of shortbread, the scent of coffee and fresh bread wafting outside onto the street every tis her customers could count on

Just like you're beginning to count on seeing those letters every , a quiet part of her whispered

She ignored it Later, once Natalie was here, she'd finally be able to go back into her tiny broo Only then would she know if she'd need to make another trip don to the police station or not Until that mo

distracted by it There was tooon her to let her creepy admirer ruin her day

Chapter 2

"Come on, man," John said, his voice loud from the phone's speaker "What do you mean you can't come?"

"I'er and locked it, hefting his duffel ot shit to take care of and then I'm back at work"

"Look, Harding, I'm serious about this one She's incredible I want you to meet her"

Zeke grinned and headed toward the building the Suits used as their base of operations He orking a swing shift tonight, heading in now so he could leave early in theout to ly kill a o hang out with his former brother-in-arms John Walsh, but Preston had already approved the shift swap There was no way out

John ether for le day off toto think you don’t exist”

Zeke laughed "Look, I proht of it"

John sighed deeply, but there wasn't any true irritation in it "Fine," he grumbled

"Talk to you later, brother"