You see, the universe still had accounts to settle. And Susie and I were way overdrawn.

This book is dedicated to my children, Pi, Coco, and Jay. When your grandkids are old enough to read this book, tell them how much I loved you.

Yet, all armor—from a lobster’s shell to a Navy SEAL’sflak jacket—ultimately reveals the same truth. All armor highlightsvulnerability. It trumpets the fact that below that hard exterior liesan interior that is soft, fragile, and in need of protection.

In many ways, revenge is much like an extramarital affair.It never just “happens.” Nobody cheats without having fantasizedabout it in advance, without having savored the idea.Revenge, like seduction, is a process. It is a game of inches.