Chapter 11
Evelyn asked to speak with Hazel.
I said no.
Then I corrected myself.
“I’ll ask Hazel.”
That surprised her.
“She’s three.”
“Yes.”
“She can’t make decisions.”
“She can decide whether she wants to see the person who frightened her.”
Silence.
Hazel said no.
Simple.
Evelyn cried again.
I did not change the answer.
Love for an adult is not a reason to override a child’s fear.
That was something my old life had not taught me well.
Mafia families confuse blood and access constantly.
We call someone family, then act as though the title opens every door.
Not anymore.
Miles asked to see Sophie.
Different issue.
His daughter was not part of the harm.
I refused to use one child against another adult.
Sophie remained outside the consequences as much as possible.
May you like
That mattered.
If we were going to break this system, we could not reproduce it.
