Page 347 of Sins of the Heart

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other family. But right now, I am. I’m grateful I’m not

leaving anyone for them to find. To hurt. And that I’m

not leaving anyone behind to miss us when we disappear into thin air.”

Her words reached deep inside Roxy and twisted

her gut tight. “Yeah, that’s a good thing. But at least

you’ll be together. You have each other.” That was

her gift to Dana. The chance to grow up with her

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mom by her side. Or maybe it was the chance to

grow up at all.

The same gift her mom had given her.

“You’re certain—” the voice on the other end

dropped so low Roxy could barely hear her “—the

Mafia won’t find us.”

“Yes.” That, Roxy could definitely swear to. If the

woman wanted to believe Dana’s dad had been Mafia

royalty, more power to her. She was probably safer believing that than knowing the truth. “You do exactly

what I told you, exactly what the instructions say, and

no one will find you.”

But I will if I have to because I can track your

daughter’s blood.

“Thank you. I’ll do everything just the way you

said. Thank you. I mean that. Thank you for everything.”

Something tightened in Roxy’s chest. The woman’s

gratitude made her uncomfortable. She was thanking

her for tearing her life apart, for forcing her to leave

everything known and familiar. How fucked was that?

“Destroy the phone as soon as you hang up,” Roxy

said, and disconnected the call.

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