Chapter 221

• VALENTINA
• ~•~
• Late afternoon light came through the window in long, slanted lines across my suite. I sat at the small desk near the wall, scraps of paper spread in front of me. Pencil in hand, I drew lines between names I remembered from the ball. Ricci. Conti. Galli. Dates from years ago when Mom stopped coming home. When Dad’s files got twisted and he ended up in cuffs. I connected them careful, like if I drew the lines straight enough the picture would finally make sense.