is surprisi
table, I hold this illegitimate child ag
d protection medallion rests against her pale skin. It f
etal rim, and a sharp, acid
at metal; I recognize the exact
weler in cash. After I lost them, I placed it in my son Leo's room as a sacred protective c
he medallion over. The name Sien
the table, settling into
leeping infant wit
she whispers softly. "
e gold medallion. "He specially cus
tentedly, a portrai
pped traveling for business this past year. He use
nto place with a s
lie. He had used the sacred law of Omertà as a cloak to lea
ith a cry, but with a small sigh,
s and offers an
e longer?" she asks. "I need to go to th
found numbness cree
wall. It reads in huge, glittering gold letters: Celebrating the
g with Silas to throw a banquet for our lawful son, Leo. He had refused, insist
one inside my purse pu
ee a text message f
a two-thousand-dollar tribute to a di
screen, my fingers feeling thick a
She calls me cold, informing me that I lack the
e rings on the table.
hand moves of its own accord; I tap t
speaker, warm and affectionate,
he baby?" he asks smoothly. "She spent hours yesterday at t
visceral nause
ul son's sacred protection medallion. She had lifted Leo's gold
kground of the call, a sickeningly sweet c
he older woman says. "Thank you for fina
yal can settle, the heavy oak doors at the
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