in's

of the forest, something

y legs wobbled, but I didn't stop. I didn't even lo

oul

, I woul

't have ti

to t

o bre

to

I took, the pain in my chest deepened. The world around me moved as if nothing had happened. The streets

part of their

om every Sunday. The old woman who sold the loaves glanced at me and s

't bla

ke a walkin

called home. The moment I stepped through th

lvi

tracks as soon a

is Daddy

to speak, but no words came out.

he whi

y knees and hu

e," I fin

ped around me, and

hands on a piece of cloth. The momen

lvi

ok my

gs gav

d into the d

loud. It was soft. Broken. The kind of sound that slipped

uried the boy

something sharper, c

days p

et, miser

ne. We all knew the truth wouldn't help. This wasn't a normal murder. This was

rough every conversation I ever had with my father

ould happen. H

he never

e did, in

bag, hidden beneath a false bo

sswords, and something else, drawings. Diagrams o

ept appearing

ic

ther had circled that name more than

k. He's Lord Sa

t, I coul

atching the moonlight

Lord Sampson's empire to the ground. But I wasn't

ded p

ed kno

ded a

all... I nee

wai

got my first

on a Thurs

en who entered the club across the road, The Den. It was a mafia hangout spot. Exclusive.

en I s

i

in the notebook, scar across his right cheek, gold watch

black SUV, surrounde

when I ma

lowed

dis

w to

after

tered a rundown apartment building by himself. I

followe

rettes. I climbed the stairs slowly, step

ear to the do

le

a deep

I kn

ds pa

foots

opened

the

dn't

into his face. He stumbled backward, shouting, but

hed for

it across

*k are you?

chair and ra

I said. "But the name of

yes, blood trickl

ai

I said. "P

expressio

blade this time, but I s

t bot

is leg, now sl

ere to kil

"Then what d

orma

I don't

ed in

u what it feels

laughed through the pa

. "I used to be

ll si

t I wanted to know or lose a few te

ose w

rned something I

nside his own circle. Men who feared him. Men who fo

e men... were re

needed

one

ng

edic

way with information. I walked a

er of r

ngs, I could break Lord Sampso

llion ha

ld pay fo

day... someone kn

her coat. Cold eyes.

introduc

rd Sampson knows

me something wr

pped it

ther's broke

crusted arou

oked

man wa