ina's

lingered out

r retreating,

was dark now, lifeless, as if it hadn't just threatened the only person

I'd learned to count bullet

n

w

re

the thin strip of light

ano

ed their thro

through the wood,s

lipped the phone into my palm and forced my ex

alone, jacket gone, sleeves rolle

gn that he'd pulled th

rbing part. He didn't look lik

er when I called

replied. Not a lie. I'd been

ted past me i

yes dropped. The ring. It sat o

arpened behi

ring on your f

at it. "I took it off to wash my hands," I

l. I like that." He stepped into the

omatically, my bo

up the ring between his fingers, an

ther's house," he said. "Do y

I an

finger. His grip tightened just enough to hurt. "They survive pr

ntinued. "Most women cry the

t women," I

d. "That's why

g. Like ownership. Like fa

lifted, sudd

say anythi

ammed again

said, to

d a fraction. "T

He told me to

ector." He tilted his head, st

ink about it

he might strike me. Instead, he smiled again, slow and indulgent. "Be caref

efore leaving, he added, "Tomorrow, you'll attend the family d

. I sagged against it once his footsteps fad

embling. I curled my fingers into

e vibrat

wn Nu

mach d

dn't d

sage follow

as a m

cing. My gaze flicked to the windows.

, then locked the bathroom door and returned to the bed

, thick and suffocating. Eventually exhaustion dragged me under,

open. Morning light filtered through the cu

upposed t

pa

hand

tt

the room and cracked the door open. Two men stood in the h

rio M

d, eyes like polished glass. He smiled

pleasantly.

d. "You should

"I was just coming to i

tteo. His jaw was tig

your responsibility,"

ied. "But Luca didn't a

't falter. "Luca assi

kled. I stepped forward b

in you,"

no need t

ped to mine. A war

raf

e," I sai

ed down the hal

e, close enough that our arms nearly brushed. Nearly.

ng strange last night?"

I re

e said. "Because

d not

t loyalty," Vitt

l king

at the head of the table, eyes lifting as we entered. His g

late,"

poorly,"

ed. "So

rmured around us, but every word felt monitored. Lu

eal ended,

e said. "Wa

ose imme

ifted to me. "

he two men left toget

e," he observ

ing lik

pping. "Be careful, dear. L

. I waited until they were gone before exhaling. Minute

't Luca. It

on

jaw clenched so tightly a mu

pened?" I

own the hall, then back at me. "Pack a sma

h caught

t ordered me to t

ded my ve

ble."He wants me to follow you tonight.

I asked. His eyes

l you," Matteo sai

orld

d down the hall. "Serafina." Matteo step

"Come," he said. "There's s

t his hand

away, I loo

ollowed me, fie

atever Luca planned next, it