Nita opened her eyes at the sound of the familiar voice, stunned to find Fabricio standing in front of her. He looked different, more mature now, in a button-up white shirt and slacks. His sleeves were rolled to his elbows, and his hair had been combed and parted on the side. It floofed a little, but it no longer had that I-was-just-kidnapped-and-tortured mussed look, which was more what she was used to.

“Fabricio.” Wariness crept into her voice. “Why are you here?”

He sat down beside her, a slight smile on his face, and folded his bandaged hand in his lap. “I’m here to make you an offer.”

Her eyes narrowed. “What kind of offer?”

Fabricio sighed softly. “Look, Nita. I’m tired. I don’t want to fight you. And I don’t want to be looking over my shoulder for the rest of my life, wondering if you’re hunting me down and trying to kill me.” He gave her an ironic smile. “I think you know what that’s like.”

She nodded slowly.

“We’ve done a lot of damage to each other. We’ve lied and hurt and destroyed. I don’t want to anymore. I want it to end.” He met her eyes. “So I’m offering you an olive branch.”

“What kind of olive branch?”

“Legal representation for Kovit.”

Nita stared. “Pardon?”

Fabricio’s gaze was steady. “Tácunan Law’s main purpose was to protect monsters from jail. I personally know all the lawyers who practice that kind of law. I’ve come into a lot of money from my father’s offshore accounts now that I’m eighteen. I can hire you the best lawyer in the world for crimes against humanity.”

Nita was silent.

Fabricio’s eyes flicked nervously, as though worried her silence was a rejection. “You’ve won the publicity battle against INHUP, but there’s still video evidence of Kovit torturing people online. Yes, he’s young in the videos. But it still exists. He’s still a zannie who worked for the mafia. I can get you a lawyer that will win any trial Kovit goes to. Hell, I can get someone who can make sure charges never get filed.”

Nita bowed her head. Fabricio was right, Kovit did need a lawyer. For the videos, for the DUL, for Mirella if she chose to press charges. For the charges Agent Quispe had threatened her with.

“And what? I’m just supposed to forgive you?” she asked, voice tight.

“No. I don’t particularly care if you forgive me.” He smiled slightly. “You don’t have to like me. Just stop trying to kill me.”

Nita was silent, thinking of everything that had happened to this point. The different faces of Fabricio she’d seen, all carefully created to get himself what he wanted. “You’re a serial liar. How can I trust that you won’t come after me?”