Dead inside

Winona

When Dallas waltzed back in with his sons by his side, I was sitting up in the bed. Sebastian scanned the scene immediately, like a sponge soaking everything in. He’d grown up to be the tall, dark, and handsome Italian the whole city loved. Most everyone knew of

him and his charisma, and he’d become the infamous heir to the mafia throne. He’d also kept a bit of his charm with me, was there when I needed him. Carlos idled behind, like a feline never really concerned with what anyone else was doing. Maybe that was the benefit of being younger with less responsibility.

“Sebastian has news,” said Dallas.

Dallas’s oldest son stared at me. “You’re too valuable to be doing what you’re doing.”

His words pummeled me, made me feel like something more than I was. More than just someone who did a job for them.

“I’m fine. Nothing happened.” I shrugged and tried to shake off the feeling of belonging. “I wasn’t paying attention when I should have been.”

“Even if you had been, it still could h