ing, Lev esca

-owned warehouse down by the docks. That was

re marrying my father, she had been the da

forge masterpieces. But she was sixt

, windowless cell that reeke

uinted through a jeweler's loupe, etching microscopic serial n

a week. It was precision work meant for laser mac

mother didn't even pause her work. The only sound in the

said casually, leaning his shoulder against the concrete wal

her tools. She pulled off t

d over. The endless hours under the gl

Her voice was as dry as dust, but

you speak to a guest? I remember a time when you used to bake

ilting her chin up. "Now I see you're just a rabid

king. He needed the Morettis to break. He needed them to c

d to give him t

stepped forward. He grabbed my mother's silver h

ward to claw at Yuri's eyes, only for

please, just tell h

ew she w

that fateful night, I had

ound out I died for him, the g

knew his survival was bought with my blo

ured, my mother was h

belt and forced my mother's left

up, toweri

ded, his voice devoid of e

Tell me, or you lose a finger. Every day you

sting her bruised cheek again

tremble. She looked at him with the fierce, heartbrea

r reach," Rosa whispered. "She is untouc

y crossed Lev's eyes. H

vy pommel of the knife down

vering bone and cartilage

convulsed, but she clamped her jaw shut, refusing to

ghostly hands over her bleeding stump to stop the hemorrhage. "I'm sorry

rply, a complex storm of emotion flickering acr

n the corner where my mother's

se and dumped its co

pilled out, clattering cr

father had given me

fr

nt down and

wrap it tightly around my kn

earls, his thumb gently brus

te boss disappeared, and I saw the Leo

ce again. He assumed my mother kept it as a memento of

the rosary with a vio

ls scattering across the filthy basement floor

ally spilling from her clou

e is," Lev hissed, his voice

he debt doubles. If you won't give up her safehouse by tom

ut of the room, leaving