ANT

lessandro was awake at five. Dark circles unde

he asked

We're late

said

oor. "And Alessandro? Lucia doesn't know about the m

pale but he fo

yesterday had been excessive, but he'd questi

I pulled up outside the bakery. "And you've been sending

ned. "I was tr

ease your guilt. T

d and cinnamon. Lucia looked

er voice w

yments from him." I kept my grip on his arm. "I'm marrying hi

d at me. "Y

rranged it. Legal bind

d your family." She came around the counter,

. "He's been sending you money for five years. He wasn't even there whe

That doesn't ma

ro. "I wanted you to meet him before the we

ssandro. "Why'd y

uld help with what came after." His voice was s

esn't." She turned t

ing him. There'

flinched. L

you're u

s a strategy, that the marriage means nothing." I

es

n three months.

. "I figured out who was sending it two years ago. Been watching you since then

ou know a

Lucia looked at me. "He's m

awa

ach other." She caught my arm. "Your mother married into this life. Sh

ay. "Too la

leaned against the c

cked the doors. "Get in. We're

riest," Alessandr

pped me.

thought I could escape the family by taking

Alessandro had alm

you giv

ied to go back once, but Father Giuseppe told me I wasn't su

uch? What d

dark in his eyes. "What d

ll

ger to prove my loyalty." His hands shook. "I threw up after each o

the fire beca

, my victims, everyone I couldn't save. It all burns together." He looked at me

e the church. I sat

you killed. Did

s. But that doesn't make it right

rranging flowers. He

essandro. "You're Vittorio's youngest. I heard you

t deny it. "I st

marrying D

hat my famil

me. "You're marryin

e Marco ordered it. The

lessing this union. I can't bless something built on hate." Giuseppe's expre

wering. In the car

about what they'd

ry d

d want? You destroying

'd want justice. This is

evenge aren't

orld, th

in silence. Ma

ng. He's in the hospital. Migh

e rang. Nico's na

ordered. "Put

et back here now. Father's dying and he's asking for you. I

. "He's not going a

e hell

ncé. If Vittorio wants to see him,

nt. Then Nico laug

father dies, this alliance dies wit