returned the Ledger exactly where it belonged, slid

me, I had be

Dante hosted the

s where the lawn was manicured to within an inch of its life, the poo

ruel irony, I was f

amilies that the transition was seam

asten a platinum watch around Sofia's wrist. The metal ca

Dante toasted,

ed, her smile sharp

tching a vintage leather-b

oice barely carrying over the

warring with her inherent greed.

ying to save my soul?" she mocke

it," I

cked th

fect cavity. Nestled within sat a massive, hairy tara

sound that silenced the band.

ted, landed squarely

or functions. She stumbled backward,

of the infinity p

m perfectly well-I had watched her swim laps just tha

He dove in, his tuxedo

edge, watchin

pulling him down in

a heavy han

Sofia's

o cool off,

hove

he cold was a physical

ew I couldn't swim. It wa

ly filling my mouth and l

derwater. The chlorine s

uspended in the blue. He had Sofia in

oked

ed through th

out a desp

ed, the bubbles

stretched fingers. The

d to bac

surface, carrying the woman who had kil

t me t

th fire. My vision

ped fi

told myself. Let

lowed me, a pair of stro

Dant

hing and retching, air rushing ba

d onto the r

ripping wet, wrapping a tow

at me, huddle

er," he accused, his voice void of wa

my throat raw. "You.

er teeth chattering, though her ey

ed at his

The Pit," h

fight club run by the Santoro family's rivals

infusing my voice with t

turned

she doesn't last three mi

walked back toward the party

arms, dragging me towa

lunging me into darkness, I

and touched the burner phone I h

l text moments befo

The Pit.

he was sending

as w

ng me to his