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“There is an old illusion It is called good and evil”

-Friedrich Nietzsche

1

Luca

TWO AND A HALF YEARS LATER

It’s always looked like solass, fogged in spots by reen and blinking blue and neon pink reflections of other buildings, cars, and street lights It’s twenty-two stories Is it black, or just reflecting nighttiht And I don’t remember from…before

Roberto asked to see ht Pretty sure he mostly wants me at the poker table He so rarely asks that when he does, I can’t say no Honestly, I wouldn’t even think about it Even if it’s here

I feel okay, though I can do this Power through Isn’t that what they say? So a hole through a wall If it hurts, you figure that out later

I don’t think she’ll be here So what if her dad’s giving a speech? These banquets for the Most Holy Redeemer “charity”—which is really a uys to drink and sot that kind of thing worked out with their wives A surprising number of them do

Luigi’s people are working tonight, whichthe show Afterward, he and Alesso will hook up with me Roberto knows theood, because Alesso doesn’t get out enough Spends all his ti on bikes

And Leo’s fancy girlfriend just dumped his ass He’s been mopey, but I’m sure he could still work the table Even I can’t read his poker face Both ht, I tell myself

I blow out another cloudy breath and walk toward the gold revolving doors Stepping in, I catch a glimpse of s here, walking into the Colu at nine-thirty on the last Friday in Noverandfather’s cufflinks, and I’lad to have them

Anything that e Tic Tacs I’ve got riding in my pocket

In another glass slot of the rotating door, there’s a red-haired girl in a long, blue gown She steps out into the lobby, and then I do She smiles over her shoulder I arch my brow