24

GLYNDON “Where the hell have you been?” I fidget at the entrance to the en-suite flat that I share with Cecily, Ava—and more recently, Annika. She was supposed to stay in a secured solitary dorm that her family arranged for her, but since the three of us like her and we have a spare room, we invited her to stay with us. Apparently, her brother was against it, but she once again got approval directly from her father—with her mother’s help. The other day, we talked to her mother over a video call and she was the sweetest, most stunning woman I’ve ever seen. Okay, maybe top five with Mum, Aunt Elsa, and my grandma. Anyway, Annika’s mother didn’t look the part of being married into the mafia at all. But then again, Anni doesn’t look the part of a mafia princess either, so maybe it’s hereditary. Our flat is cozy, with a spacious living area, four bedrooms, and a kitchen with black countertops. The source of the question that was asked as soon as I walked in was Ava. She’s dressed in fluffy