Page 32 of Dante

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"Marina."

Sophia's voice is soft. Alert. Not sleepy at all.

Like she was waiting.

"Hey." My voice comes out rough. Scratchy. "I'm sorry. I know it's late."

"It's fine. I wasn't sleeping."

"I just..." I trail off. Swallow hard. "I needed to hear your voice."

Silence on the other end.

Then: "You're scared."

It's not a question.

I don't know how she does that. How she always knows exactly what I'm feeling before I say a word. We've been friends since kindergarten. Maybe that's just what happens when you know someone that long. You learn to read the spaces between their words.

"Yeah." I admit it. No point in lying. "I'm scared."

"Of Dante?"

"No." The answer comes out fast. "Not of him. Of... everything else. The people who shot him. What happens if they find out where he is. What happens if they come here."

"They won't."

"You don't know that."

"I do." Her voice is firm now. Certain. "Lorenzo has three men watching your building. They've been there since the doctor left. No one gets in or out without us knowing."

I blink.

"Three men?"

"At least three. Maybe more. I didn't ask for the exact number."

I should feel violated. Watched. Surveilled.

Instead, I feel something loosen in my chest.

Safe.

I feel safe.

"Marina." Sophia's voice softens. "No one is going to hurt you. I promise. Lorenzo promised. And you know what his promises mean."

I do know.

Lorenzo Sartori doesn't make promises he can't keep.

"Okay." I exhale. Long and slow. "Okay. Thank you."

"You don't have to thank me."

"I know. But I'm doing it anyway."

A pause.

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