ian

s silence descende

initial stupefaction an

n of the mortal danger

ed, he smiled with

ced, his ignorance of my station a stunning thing. "Tell Enzo

n their romantic trip right afte

from a chair, Leo wal

aut silence until th

lammed her palms down on her ma

ur family's power to trap me!" she

of my heart felt as if it ha

e held no reverence for

ot as a vow, but as a t

y, I realized a formal seve

d, jabbing a finger towa

her civilian employees peering at

my sides, the leather

ate breath, banking th

urned my back on her and

final emotional cord that bo

longer the man she had hidden in the shadow

o my penthouse

the vehicle, the grie

clarity of a Don

hour later with a discreet tea

with a grim satisfacti

ts, he meticulously orchestrated the

s of me being fitted fo

d the updates directly to the syn

one buzzed on th

text fr

isbelief, if I truly had the spine t

moment, then set the device

in the seclusion of a dimly lit

and poured two heav

rred wood of the table

led to invoke a blood Vendetta against me if you we

nch; he simply took a slow,

down and looked at me w

suspected she pursue

e, he stated that his loyalty to his Don

votion, the crushing weight of five wa

racked for a frac

escaped my eye and traced

f my thumb, burying the weaknes

ife walked into the

ht behind her, her e

oulders uncharacteristically slump

ed my arm

terous group of her mafia-affiliated

r faces. Their laughter died in their throats, replaced by a thick, trembling terror. Several of them dropped

em, Seren

f it were a hot coal an

esigner skirt, a desperate atte

ed to her friends and pointed a d

she introduced the Underboss of the city as not

of the trembling group and offered a slow, deliberate blink. The silent command was absolute.

osure, I reached slowly

ssed family wedding invitation

o her, my expre

asp of outrage, Serena aggress