Mill

a shap

settles into a dull, throbbing ache in the marrow of your bones. But af

recision. I sat with the elders. I nodded dutifully when they preached patience. But unde

a victim and b

sal language, and old soldiers love to reminisce. I sought out the ones who

polite inquiries about their g

shears snapping shut on a rose stem. The fallen petals looked

ing the name on my tongue l

r she was. Now? She

cil. I sat in the corner, pouring tea like

hifting away from mine to study the carp

s hemorrhaging thousands on jewelry for her while my eng

t private anymore. It

ble Cosa Nostra meetings, but the gallery openings, t

d designed for myself. Chloe clinging to his arm. Chloe smil

. It was mandatory for the family. I had to go. I h

ral gown that screamed mourning, t

ess. Then, the whispers started, sou

oking devastatingly handsome and entirely unbothered. Chloe was

spered something to Ethan, and he glanced at me. His eyes w

d walked over to me, hold

for the nearby tables to eavesdrop. "I didn't t

I said, my

ike a ghost haunting a house that's already been sold. It's sad, rea

e, Chloe. Just remember, it's built on a foun

d before returning, sharper than before. "At

k in her face. I found a quiet corner near

Maya's father. He was the family's oldest cons

said quietly. "Y

a widow, Mr

quid coat the glass. "Sometimes, death is a

m sharply. "Wh

d, lips barely moving. "Since the accident. Large transfers

to my hand. "Maya sends her lov

hroom and unfolded the

I told Leo I would burn the estate t

he massive oak desk that used to belong to

t quick

n't know the details, but I knew enough

aper ceased. He looked up. For a second, the mask slippe

sional," he

ealing from the fami

e, using his height to intimidate, sucking the oxygen ou

going a

t threat. "The villa in Tuscany. It's lovely this

exile,

"From yourself. Don't push me, Av

ord is

skin hard enough to bruise. "If you weren't a Mi

h a shove toward t

haking. But not from

. He was a monster

the napkin. Maya pick

ing for you

out,"

the old diner on 4

t today she was in jeans and a baseball cap. S

ore the crash. Ethan's phone records. He was calling a number

ed through the f

ho is the only person standing between him an

e

rning my blood to ice. "He's trying to void the marria

urgently. "If you go to Tu

going to

need to

s plotting. Fake IDs. Offs

ng like a spy in enemy territory.

to his study that night. He looked fr

e wheezed. "My son..

uel," I c

n his chest. "He is the future

wouldn't

photo. It was her and Ethan in bed. He was asleep, his arm th

My Don.

n until the pixels bu

d anymore.

n't a Principessa anymore. She was a soldier who

oom, my reflection staring back with cold

ing the matc