he penthouse was o

m the flow of blood. Dante tapped incessantly on his phone, ignoring

e apartment, the s

smelled like home-like a

etraying me. I hadn't

le. She looked delighted, her face

for dinner," she ch

aids. Before I could

ustion. They forced me into a chair. Sofia ladled a thic

aid, her smi

a clump of fur floating in the grease

li

rned to ice

ispered, the n

alley behind the art studio. The only l

her eyes danci

" she said matter-of-factly. "I so

I tried to stand up, to flip the t

he hallway. He saw the

horrified. He

t, Elena," he said, loosening hi

I screamed, my voice cra

evaporating. "And you are behaving like one. Eat

the bowl a

s Sofia's red dress. She

I could track. He backha

out of the chair. I tasted copp

owering over me. "Lick it of

Come, amore. Let's get

rd the master be

remains of my best friend, my

vibrated

rembling hands. A text

you

s Val

ack one w

ter bathroom. I heard Sofia giggling.

wiped the bloo

into Dant

ren't shaki

he copy of The Prince. I pressed the hidden

lue L

he bribes to judges, the locations of the bo

abbe

an. I heard the bed frame hitting

houted

y. I didn't

pulled out my phone. I

e camera was a na

rkness settling over my soul. Distract h