CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Having finished the meals bought for her by Gio, Daniella was then sitting in the living room with her and Sensi, in full-blown, deep conversation.

"So, you've been in here, by yourself, all this time?" Gio asked. Mercedes had told him this before, but it seemed so surreal that he had to get a second source to confirm. "No friends? No people? Nothing?"

"Daniella shook her head gently, a sad look on her face. " Mercedes says nobody is to be trusted because Aleksandr has men everywhere in the city. So, I've been in here. No school, no friends, not even neighbors.. She comes to see me once every month, and she stocks the kitchen with food enough for a month until she comes again the following month."

Gio's mouth hung open for a moment, as he imagined this much loneliness and depression the girl must have gone through.

Daniella had more to say, though:

"The door is always locked from outside, so I can't even go outside. Mercedes says I have to stay as silent as possible to make the house