Page 2 (1/2)

PROLOGUE

“I was born lost and take no pleasure in being found”

—John Steinbeck

ORLANDO

FOURTEEN YEARS AGO

His fist collided with her face, sending her to the ground so quickly that her hair whipped around her face before she hit the ’s floor, almost dead, before she tried to push herself up Her arms wobbled, and her chest rose and fell as she desperately tried to get the air back into her lungs Sheback onto the mat

Pitiful

“Get up, Melody,” I said to her, as I leaned back against the wall of the old boxing gym outside of the city It was just as run down as the town itself No one but our people came over here anymore—sweat of sweat, hot blood of hot blood, ere Italians; one people And she was disgracing herself in front of the very people who needed to respect her the most

She didn'tNeither a human nor an animal

“I said get up, Melody!”

With a small, frustrated cry, she pushed herself to her feet, and threw herself onto the ropes of the ring in order to stand, as Gino held on to her

“Miss? Miss Giovanni? Are you alright?” Gino asked her, glancing at me, wide-eyed when she did not answer

“Let her go And I swear to God Alain…”

“I’m fine” She pushed the loose strands of her dark hair behind her ear and stood straighter as she raised her wrapped fists She shook her head a few times, and tried to maintain her composure

“See? She’s fine Now start again,” I said to him

“Sir, it’s been two hours—”

“I don’t care if it’s been two days!” I snapped, and it was then that I saw it All the eyes in the gyhter with pity, and at me with disdain as if I were some kind of monster

“EVERYONE OUT!” I called suddenly, causing them all to jump and run towards the door

Gino looked between Melody and

“You and I will be having words later,” I said to hi out

The gyht ca where she waited without a word Stepping inside as well, I grabbed the paddedher as I placed them

“You are a disappointment, Melody,” I whispered “And not just that but you’re eoddamn self How old are you noelve or four? Do you still need someone to save you? To baby you? Is that what you want?”

“No, sir” She held her head up “I’”

“Fine? A o you looked like a newborn deer Is it because we’re alone now that you don’t want to put on a show?”

She glared atthis for two hours, Dad Any normal person—”

“You are not norhter of Iron Hands—hter! Normal is never the adjective used to describe you! Exceptional Notorious Unstoppable That is what you should aim for You’re in pain? Your body aches? Guess what? That’s your life You think those idiots outside helped you because they cared? Because you’re so precious? They stepped in toyou down to their li hand is a selfish one If you can’t save yourself, you have no right to be saved” I lower of her dark brown eyes “Do you understand?”

She didn’t answer, she just kept staring me down

“I asked you a question”

“Yes, sir I hear you,” she barely uttered

“Good” I raised the pads “Now, fists up”

“Ti odio,” she said under her breath as she beat into them

“I’m sorry, you hate what—?”