Page 9 (1/2)

My heart starts to drum like Christmas bells are on a reindeers belt, over and over, a whole deafening cacophony of them as I watch Kenny and Terrence shake hands

Terrence says sohs, but it has a forced quality to it, a tug at h hihter even if it’s almost drowned out by the Christmas music and the chatter of the shoppers I’ve learned to listen through crowds

Why the fuck is Natalie’s brotherwith the leader of the Bloody Sons?

“Excusemy attention back to Santa’s Wonderland

“Yes?” I reply, in my best Santa voice

“Do you et a photo?”

“Please, Santa Please,” the little girl pleads

I offerto put the effort in today

It’s like I’ to have one day

But does that family include a brother-in-laho meets with criminals, possibly does deals with them?

I need to speak with Natalie

“Of course” I nod at the little girl “Santa would love to have a photo with you”

“Yay, thank you, Santa,” she says, voice bri with happiness

I look at thepast her…

At Kenny, his head bowed as he walks away from Terrence and the bikers

Chapter Eight

Natalie

I walk around the edge of the ainstover to the left, silhouetted by the steely gray of the sky, with the bridge reaching across like a er

It see here, as though we’re cordoned off in our own little corner of Christmas

Giggling at the thought, I shakea fa hiss-hiss noises against the reflective frozen playground

Cordoned off in our little corner of Christmas