ella

k and old secrets. Vincenzo didn't wait for me. He exited the car with a flu

thmically on the pavement, a soun

gold lined the walls, and the air was thick with the scent of expensive cigars, heavy perfume, and the metallic tang

ht toward a spiral staircase that led to a glass-walled office overlooki

el, silent test to s

ly decided to grace u

nd and a smirk painted on her red lips. She circled me like a shark se

ith false sweetness. "Vincenzo needs a woman who understands the weight of this world. So

conversations dying down as they w

stina's gaze, letting a col

alm and carrying clearly over the low hum of jazz. "Not by gossiping about other women to mak

ged glances; some looked impressed, others war

. She grabbed a file from a nearby table and shoved it into my chest. "S

s in the VIP lounge. He's refusing to go on stage until his demands are met. Vincen

ryone did. He was known for a voice like velvet and a temper lik

ke out the silhouette of a man standing still, watching. Vincenzo. He was letting this ha

d do n

I said to Cristina

allows. Two large enforcers guarded the door. They lo

gree

e wall, and a cloud of cigarette smoke hung low in the air. In the c

water filth!" Frankie roared, throwing a glass a

around, his face flushed with rag

over the broken glass, his posture threatening.

he sunglasses I had worn to hide the

fro

of utter, paralyzing shock. His mouth opened, but no sound

tensed, hands drifting to the

man who spat in the face of

trousers. He reached out, his hands trembling as if h

he whispered, his voice

composure despite the racing of my he

mission and reverence. "I thought you were a ghost," he murmured, tears wellin

ape, their weapons forgotten. They had expected a m

y glass of the office above,

ckm