Arranged to the Don, Freed from the Lie novel · Chapter 18 of 24

Chapter 18: Ninety Days

I took the letters up to the east attic and sat down on the dust sheets where Santino and I had lain together before dawn on Saturday.

Rosalind sat across from me on the cedar chest with her hands in her lap.

The sun came through the small window and lit the string around the bundle.

"Read the last one first," she said again.

I untied the string and counted down to the bottom of the pile.

The twenty-second envelope was newer than the rest, white instead of cream, and the ink was still dark.

I opened it.

Helena. I'm writing this in April, to a girl who will turn thirty in July.

I have known the date for years.

Santino sat in my kitchen last month.

He asked how a man tells a woman she is free when he holds every paper she owes.

He said whatever he said would sound like a purchase.

I told him the truth. Nothing he says will sound like anything else while you owe him one thing.

So make him say what he wants.

Not what he has bought, and not what he has saved you from.

If he cannot, walk out. If he can, don't make it easy.

I am sorry I did not come for you sooner.

I was ashamed of how well I had learned to be quiet.

I read it to the end, and then I held it against my mouth.

Rosalind did not say anything.

She slid down off the chest and sat beside me on the sheet, and her shoulder pressed mine.

"He asked you what to say," I said.

"He asked me how to ask."

"And you told him he couldn't."

"I told him to wait until you owed him nothing." She smiled a little. "Which turns out to be today. Your Council is gone, your shares are back, and your sister's fees are paid in full by a trust you now sign for. He couldn't have timed it better if he'd tried."

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