*The price for life*

Valentina was on the couch when the call came.

She had just settled in, her ribs still aching slightly from any movement that stretched too much. The book she’d been holding sat unread on her lap with her focus scattered, her mind dipping in and out of the past few days.

When her phone buzzed, she barely glanced at it—until she saw the name.

Dad.

Her grip tightened slightly around the phone, and an unpleasant feeling twisted in her stomach. She took a deep breath ...