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“We’ve all made our fair share of shit choices, Fiero. Mine started this whole shit show six years ago,” Alessandro grimaces.

Ciro’s hand rests on my shoulder as I rise to my feet. “I don’t expect forgiveness. Just please, help me get her back.”

Two more bodies enter the room. Female.

Gloria slips her hand into Adri’s, his entire demeanor brightening. Isabella looks me up and down with a mocking smirk as she leans into Alessandro, shaking her head like a disapproving older sister.

“Man, this almost seems familiar…like the four of you have rushed off to save some broad before.” Isa tongues the inside of her cheek. “She must be one of a kind to claim the heart of the Angel of Death.”

A smile pulls at my lips, spreading into a full-blown grin.

“What the fuck is that?!” Adriano blurts, his eyes bugging out a bit.

“He keeps doing this, scaring children with this face he makes now. It is nightmare fuel,” Vanya explains, making a disturbed face.

“It’s like watching a rabid dog trying to chew off its own tongue,” Aless grunts, giving me a thin smile of his own.

“He’s Christmas Ero now! His heart grew three sizes!” Ciro guffs, socking me in the arm.

“Does that make you Max the dog?” I snap back at him.

“Where did he even get a heart? Probably stole it from the morgue.” Gloria sniffs, turning to lead the way farther into the house.

“Actually, I really did kickstart his heart. Me and my motley crew,” Ciro snickers.

“I think Ero meant the whole death thing to be a metaphor, Zero,” Alessandro looks back over his shoulder.

“It wasn’t a meta for shit. We seriously had to defibrillate the fucker when we found him. He flatlined like three times.”

“Does he know what a metaphor is…” Gloria mutters under breath.

“Have they sainted you yet, Vanya? Your patience and tolerance for my brother are truly inspirational,” Adriano drolls.

“Don’t I need to die first to be sainted?” she sniffs.

“Yeah, die from laughing so hard.” My twin pouts.

“Hey, Diamantes! Can we get to the part where we figure out how we are going to take down some world-dominating queen-bitch and save Ero’s little goddess? Sometime this year would be great.”

Thank you Isabella.

Circe straightens,her back rigid, her eyes blank and hollow. I mimic her stance, my thoughts clear and my will my own.

Ananke’s whispered key phrase tore at my consciousness, clawed for a handhold. But the hooks she had in me are rusting, cracked, and disintegrating.

Just in case, I broke my pinky finger on my left hand the second she opened her mouth.

Pain hones my senses, sharpens my resolve, blocking out the vestiges of her grip on my mind.

A glance toward the audience shows me a signal, two, three. Ciro. Adriano. Alessandro. All decked out in finery and disguised as dignitaries.

Which means everything is ready.

Ananke takes her seat, right beside the leering Dom Vipera.

Now, I just have to figure out how to get through to the woman I love. I have to hope that she’s still in there, that she can find her way back one last time.

Before she kills me.