Chapter 9: Homecoming

"Dad—" Damien catches me by the wrist before I hit the gravel. "Don't run at him. Walk. Chin up. Don't give Sal a single thing." So I walk. My father lifts his head, and eleven years fall off him and land on me. He's thinner. Grayer. There's blood on his collar. And when he sees me his whole face collapses. "Ava-bug," he says. "Oh God. Baby, I'm so sorry." "Beautiful," Salvatore says warmly, swirling his wine. "Isn't this beautiful? A family reunited. Michael, I've been trying to arrange...