Chapter 3

"You abandoned me, left me to rot." His voice was flat and icy. "Lying in a hospital bed waiting to die, because I had no money to save myself. And now you're back?"

He pointed at my huddled form. "This illness is just another one of your schemes. What do you want this time? Money?"

Every word felt like a heavy punch, squeezing the air from my lungs.

I slowly pushed myself up from the concrete floor. My joints ached, my vision spun. Legs weak, I bent down and picked up the crumpled papers.

I forced a hollow smile onto my stiff face, looking straight into his dark eyes.

"Oops, you caught me," I said, faking a breezy tone. "I'm exactly the mercenary you think I am. I don't care what you think of these files, but you still have to pay the extortion fee."

Gia stepped in front of Falco, squeezing out a few tears and wiping them away delicately.

"Falco, please," she whimpered, turning to him. "Pay off this traitor and end this. Have you forgotten how she left you to die?"

A deep chill settled over Falco's face. He looked at me like I was garbage.

"Everything happening to you now," he said deadpan, "is exactly what you deserve. You have nothing to do with the Family."

He reached out, his thumb gently wiping away Gia's fake tears.

"Gia, you're too kind," he murmured to comfort her. Then he shot me a look of disgust, dismissing me. "Walking corpse."

He took Gia's hand and walked away, turning his back on me.

Gia threw a triumphant, malicious glance over her shoulder, her tears already gone.

I watched his broad shoulders disappear around the corner.

As soon as they were gone, my facade crumbled.

My legs suddenly gave out, and I leaned heavily against the wall, sliding down to the floor. I gasped for air, but the mental suffocation left me defenseless.

My trembling hand pressed against my right side. The remaining kidney throbbed dully, suddenly flaring into a sharp, burning agony.

Memories flooded back.

The light fading from Falco's eyes four years ago; my own whispered lies; the cold kiss of the scalpel in that shady clinic; the searing pain, like having a tooth ripped out.

I remembered waking up alone, knowing I had traded my future for his.

I sat alone on the floor, waiting for the pain to pass.