Chapter 224

• VALENTINA
• ~•~
• Early morning light came gray through the curtains in my suite. I sat at the desk with the stolen letter spread out next to my notebook. The words still stared back at me. Address. Facility. V.R. transfer. I traced the initials again with my finger. Same as mine. Same as Mom’s maiden name. Gustavo’s half-truths from last night sat heavy in my chest. Matteo wasn’t distant. He was blood. And Gustavo had lied smooth about it. I couldn’t wait for him to decide what I got to know anymore.