She wanted to squeal with joy but swallowed her elation, saving it for the rest of the conversation. In her mind, however, a song still played. He'd been loved all along. His mother had been there all along.

Giveaway Alert!

A fourth carried a modified chair with an insert she knew was meant for Aleksi. There were at least twenty, with more pouring in by the handful. She glanced at Giorgio’s hand. It twitched, and then stopped moving. "Oh no."

The man nodded, continued. "Yes, of course. Miss Bayeux, you have challenged Mo to a fight to the death. Mo, you have accepted."

Helmine’s bony fingers came together on the desktop, her gaze like a laser in Giorgio’s direction. “Your mother was the youngest daughter of the woman my husband swore, one day, he would kill. She was from a little city in Italy called Pozza. Have you ever heard of it?”

The man nodded, continued. "Yes, of course. Miss Bayeux, you have challenged Mo to a fight to the death. Mo, you have accepted."