Page 59 of Queen’s Gambit

With this information, I could be a Don of Dons before my twenty-fifth birthday. Pulling out my phone, I snapped pictures of everything I needed as fast as I could before closing the file and pushing it away.

I had no idea why the Curators would give me such powerful information, but my plans had just changed. There was literally nothing in this world that I wouldn’t do for Ana, even if it meant getting my hands a little dirty from this day forward. It was time I showed the world—that despite being fair and upstanding in all my business dealings—Edmundo Genovese wouldn’t be pushed around.

Edmundo

Ana wasn’t coming back.

Even before Dean Martin came to tell me in person, I knew that her silence through Christmas and New Year meant only one thing. Sitting on my bed, I stared at the photo of us I’d taken from her dorm room.

Ella had been devastated, and I was more determined than ever to become fluent in sign language. Before the school packed up Ana’s things, I went through to collect the evidence of her time with me. The movie ticket stub, a photo of us eating ice cream together, and her diary filled with pages of private information about the two of us. I didn’t trust her father not to use it against her. The last thing I took was one of her hoodies that still smelled like her.

But how does one learn to breathe without air or live without a heart?

Both of those had been ripped from my chest the day that Ana was taken home. I’d worked twice as hard to push aside the constant ache and put myself in a position that Vadin couldn’t ignore. I called every day and each time that I was sent to voicemail, I dutifully left a message. But his blatant disregard, because he didn’t see me as an equal, pissed me off.

“You okay?”

Paul stood at the door holding his suitcase. He’d gone home for the holidays while I stayed behind. Facing my family and my father after the humiliation that Lawrence, Christov, and Vadin had put me through was too much to bear.

“Not really.”

“I shouldn’t have left you here alone. I’m sorry,” Paul said, and I shook my head.

“No, I needed the time to think,” I said, setting the framed photo down on my desk.

“Have you figured out what you’re going to do?”

I shrugged as he walked over to his bed and sat down.

“I’m working on it. But I’m on a clock that is almost impossible to beat. And…I’m trying to get it done while ignoring my traitorous friend and my enemy working together.”

“You won’t have to worry about Lawrence.”

“Why?”

Paul ran his hand through his hair before taking off his glasses.

“I did what I should’ve done when Yuli first told me what happened. I went to Dean Martin and explained what happened and why she was so scared to come forward. He’s been removed from campus and will finish online.”

Standing, I walked over to Paul and held out my hand. When he clasped it, I pulled him to his feet and hugged him.

“Thank you. I know why you kept her secret, and I’m happy Ana had you looking out for her.” Paul slowly gripped me back. “I miss her so much,” I said.

Admitting it out loud meant that I had to face the truth.

I may never see my Ana again.

“I miss her, too,” Paul said, and I stepped back, still holding onto his shoulders.

“You’re a good friend, Paul. I’ll never forget it.”

He gave me a lopsided grin.

“Ed, you’re my only real friend, and you’ve always been good to me. I promise I’ll do whatever I can to help you get Yuli back, and I’ll never forget your kindness.”

“Fuck. Do you two want me to come back,” Marcus asked as he walked through the door.

“You really are an asshole,” I said, and of course Marcus smiled.