ra

not accept

hen I made him look like a weak protector in front of his men-ev

voice slicing through the thick air

e wanted to drag this out; he wanted to pretend he was bein

deck, the crisp snap of the cards filling the charged silence. I dealt a single card to the three of

urn to spea

s chair, crossing his ar

alone in the freezing rain," I said, my voice

om. Natalia froze,

en shovel in the freezing rain because I c

her sneer. She picked up her glass o

countered, her voice dripping with arrogance. She looked at me. "Never have

e-a vicious, tr

he right hand of the Don du

longed to me. She was weaponizing the power a

her who had abandoned me in

ever had a f

in the air, h

ze, her smi

he penalty shot of whiskey sitting in front

glass, her face pa

ge hand shot out. He grabbed the glass and slammed it do

dark with a

le, his leather shoes silent on the marble, and his hand closed around my upper

as he pulled me into the dimly lit hallway. He slammed the heavy

e smell of his expensive cologne

, Elara?" Julian hissed,

rm away, but he held

my soldiers make you look strong?" he demand

" I said, my voice shaki

ing the Romano n

ushing against his chest. "Y

s eyes

I weighed barely a hundred pounds. I was starving and grieving. He descended on my rural town like a dark sa

a suburban house with barre

her wrists if I set foot in the estate," I said, the tears

ed away, hi

hide like a fugitive to visit her own biological daughter. She brings me black-marke

d, his voice turning to ice. "Access to t

ry foundation of my hop

understan

ever

ck to straighten the lapels of his suit jacket. His face returned

ng me alone in the dark hallway with salt drying on my

e no later. T

aight out of the casino, hailed a cab,

out my phone and confirmed the timetable I'd found earlier. The freight trai

's number. He answer

r to the hospital," Julian's voice cam

caught in

id," he continued. "Mother tried to calm her down,

I said, my voice

out a har

d coldly. "Stay in the safe house a

ne wen

came. The last thread connecting me to Julian Romano-fragile, frayed, and held together

icked up the weathered, framed photograph of my adoptive parents. They were

rief and sudden cla

e my onl

if I had to claw my way out of t