unbearable tension that wrapped itself around the booth like a no

a predator deciding whether to strike. He leaned forward, his elbows res

g off his tongue like venom. "And when, exactly,

mpting to maintain. "I-I didn't want to cause unnecessary alarm,"

d no warmth. "How thoughtful of you to protect

ugh blaming her for dragging this information out of him. She shrank sli

ybe the rumors have something to do with all those shipments going mis

ard Luca, his jaw tighteni

s voice cutting through

mediately, the authorit

fened under the intensity of it. "You noticed so

f this-whatever this was. But she'd already been dragge

what she'd observed. "He's defensive. When Luca mentioned the missing ship

idiculous. She's a civilian. She do

his attention fixed

is leaking information to your competitors, they'd have to know the ins and outs of your operation, right? Shipme

nd Luca. "Maybe the leak isn't jus

again, her words echoi

eaming with something unreadable. "Impressive," he

d. She didn't want his

"You're letting her play detective now? A random woman off the street

ishing. "Loyalty is a fragile thing, Stefa

hatever retort he had died on his t

's enough for today. Luca, make sure Stefano finds hi

argue. Luca gave an exaggerated bow befo

ght of Dante's attention fel

said simply, his vo

le. "I didn't mean to accuse any

," Dante replied, standing. He extended a han

grip firm and unyielding as h

she asked, her voice b

one leaving no room for argume

o-ceiling windows offering a breathtaking view of the city skyline. A massive desk dominated the sp

osite his desk, then poured himself a gla

ffered, raisi

quickly, her nerves too

d against the edge of the desk. "You've proven yourse

l," she replied, her voice q

piercing, "is exactly why yo

lap, her pulse quickening. "

always have a choice, Elena. It's just t

but she held his gaz

close to me. Observe, listen, and report anything y

of his words settling h

ly. "You've entered a dangerous world, Elena. The sooner yo

ne. She didn't trust him, but she co

e that day, one thoug

er head, and ther