a

w, freezing register as he sta

demanded. "Do you plan to

wer. Without a second of hesitation, I reached for m

ed their backs. They were terrified of witn

ked as he watche

second button.

the immense tearing force, the silk cuff of my shirt emitted the faint

, his grip a cage of bone and sin

armored SUV. Behind us, the sharp, frantic clicking of high heels echoed against the pavement. Serafina scurri

and the heavy convoy sped

cologne and the stuffy, animal scent of leather warmed by body heat, forcing one to t

ence," she whined, berating Cassio for ever

ice carried the terrifying, deadened

uth, Serafina

oiled in her

ath on me?" she demanded, ac

nterrupted

e Syndicate," I stated.

r. He accused me of mimicking Serafina's manipulation

me dangerous, yet I unflinchingly

to his driver. The convoy shuddered to

open. A storm raged in Cassio's eyes as he snatched the de

"Let's see how long you survive witho

and I stumbled out of the high cabin,

rated away, leaving me

the Don had frozen the meager emergency funds attached to my name. Disgusted, I tossed the useless, traceable device into a nearby storm drain. I pulled

s until Leo's signal had promised he would land.

neutral territory. I paid the clerk and locked mys

knew Leo would not return from his operations for three more days,

ty streets, attempting to find le

tores, but I was turned away by every establish

counter and whispered a warning. A decree had come down from the Syndica

ended the Don

ng my throat. I acknowledged Cassio's methods: he was

sy street, and walked toward the derelict warehouses

he landed, Cassio's entire empire would learn w