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“Thanks for thinking of that, though I had no worries on that score Your family’s reputation is above par I couldn’t be happier for hter to become close to yours Maybe they can help break her out of her shell”

“That’s a possibility I hear you have another daughter at home”

“My stepdaughter Victoria, yes”

“I hope it’s not a probleirls haven’t included her Truth is, they’re not usually allowed to hang around with kids that are hter is their new tutor and they’ve taken a liking to her, their h, they just never brought anyone home that was much older

“Oh, not at all; Victoria has her own group of friends, she’ll be fine I understand, your daughters are what, fifteen? Why would she want to hang around with thee?”

“Excellent Now that that’s out of the way, I hear you’re a financier…” That conversation went on for as long as I wanted it to before we said our goodbyes My job as a father is never-ending When it’s not one thing with these kids, it’s another

I knehento their brother that they were up to so more than that they didn’t want this other kid around, who they see to

Now I have to sit here and talk to this guy when I haveto come out of all this is the fact that my son seems preoccupied with the wholeover the other

Last tiiven him a list with all the names of the heads of the families in Sicily Of course, he doesn’t knohy the boy was asking, but I have a pretty good idea I just need to get in front of this thing before he ret

GABRIEL

I picked her up fro the shit show that it would be “Get your sketchbook, and let’s go” She walked us back to her locker, where she kept it and still hadn’t said a word to me At least she remembered to keep her head up and not down as if she were counting the tiles

Lance was already seated at a table alone, waiting, which is what I’d told him to do No one would dare sit with him in case I showed up, and it was the best table in the roo to hi into this place, and both ti there? Grab what you want to eat”

The other idiot kids got out of the way and stood around staring like I was soood stare was enough to reether and went about their business, ignoring rabbed an apple and a salad while I turneddishes

“Is that all you’re having?”

“Yeah, if I eat too much at lunch, I’m tired the rest of the day” I noddedand led her to the table as the tho start lunch about fivein They made a beeline for us with a couple of their friends in tow

I could read their plays; I ht the ancient thesis on war and life, we pretty much think alike The only difference is my sisters have no chill

They quite frankly don’t give a fuck and shohile I keep who I am well hidden For this reason, they’re a bit overprotective Now that they’ve got it into their heads that she’s of interest to me, I could almost feel sorry for Victoria and anyone else who stands in their way

Introductions were o back into her shell “Relax, with me here; no one would dare” I didn’t mean to let my lips touch her ear when I whispered the words to her and was almost certain she hadn’t noticed until I saw her shiver and heard the sharp intake of breath

I barely prevented h control to ease back in my seat as if that didn’t just happen What the hell was that? I stared at the side of her head for a , saw the red flush on her cheek, and sed around the growing lump in my throat