a

legitimate corporate headquarters sl

k, the weight of the heavy leather

ing Family Associate, stood

ed, her tone laced wi

olished marble counter with a heavy, defini

te vault keys, and the classified syndicate ledger

I instructed, my voice

re here?" she asked, her hand alread

aid. "I'm

e emergency stairwell, desperate to avoi

pen, the sound of familiar voices

his Underboss, de

his authoritative voice echoing off the concrete

e Underboss hesitated, clearly uncomfortable.

commanded coldly. "And I'll h

airs-our anniversary dinner date had b

low smile tou

ten to the rest of h

walked blindly out of the buildi

fade in the rearview mirror as I headed toward my late gra

r was biting and crisp, smelling str

f the old wooden dining table when my

dable woman hardened by decad

safehouse, her sharp eyes visibly sof

ing the room to pull me

on bleeding into my voice as I

r a long moment and

standing. "We all know Sienna's true bloodline. We know you shielded he

dust rag twisted in my hand

ce heavy with pity. "But your impending marriage to the Don means yo

up at her, my re

ompound, Auntie," I said,

y, affectionately

armly. "I know you will come visit this o

ted, pressing the matt

-out heart that I was leav

coming back

heavy tires crunching on gravel sh

rough the front doors toge

edding respects to my Uncle, the feare

s jaw tightening when he saw me stan

oped her arm through mine, a bright, sic

nna explained breezily, as if it were

r, the tension thick en

hairs, immediately diving into discussions of

seamlessly chiming in with her uninvited

her, nodding occasionally a

eling entirely invisible-just another

pt. He did not ask why I had left his territory unannounced. He did not ask how I was. He simply looke

, my fingers numb against th

that his 'business'

o leave, my Uncle walked t

g Dante firmly on the broad shoulder. "The Don cannot see his bride

ectfully, ever th

turned his sha

Sienna," he instructed with absolute author

ase," I said quietly,

the long, shadowed hall

e, the wheels clicking loudly against

eavy iron gates of the compound, the

motorcade was

, still settling quietly in t

himed in t

ect the floral arrangements at

, reading the dismissive text

single tear, I tu

ved the luggage into the trunk. The gearshift was cold under my palm as I slid into the driver's seat. I started the

earview mirror. I kept my eyes fixed on the

fe, I was not waiting for s

simply