nsion, De Marco's men were gearing up, weapons being checked, radios

caged animal, cigarette between his fingers, th

d, slamming his hand on the desk har

r," his assistant stammered,

kicking over a chair. "I send him to d

henchman appeared in the doorway, hat

ped, his patience a

." the man said, his e

im? Get to th

red, "we found his

eyes turned murderous. "In the bin?" he repe

sage," the henchman said carefully

ed it together. "Morelli," he hissed, "that son of a bitch." His fist crashed down o

ously, "you want us to go after

nt her friend, Gianna. Talana would bleed for that woman, walk through hell for her." He turned toward the win

tant said, hurrying out t

burning down to the filter. The game had change

Massimo parked his Maserati under a flickering streetlight and turned toward Talana, his gaze so

u need anything, and I mean anything, te

stepped out of the car, the g

at the kitchen table, a half-empty bottle in hand, his face shadowed and mean. Be

swirling the wine in his glass,

ked toward Maria. "And your wife that I will not, now or ever, marry De Marco, or anyone

e sound hollow. "You t

vealing a space that smelled faintly of perfume and dust. She went straight to her dresser and froz

he box and stormed downstairs, slamming it

ful bitch?" Maria shot bac

snapped. "My money! That w

ours!" her father yelled, his vo

cried. "You'd sell me to a criminal to p

leave, but Maria's fist cracked across her face. Talana stumble

lunging forward before catch

the light from the window flicker with movement, then he heard t

the tiny kitchen with menace. "Touch her again," he said in a voice l

roze, their drunken bravado

r from their sight. Then he guided her out of the house without a

old, brushing again

r, his voice softening. "Are you oka

re both drunk or high, but they took everythin

orry about your tuition, I'll handle it, but promise me somethi

y, the anger givin

istant and indifferent. The hum of the engine filled the

" Massimo sa

Miss Gianna's apartment. We've sea

could hear every word, her b

ice hardened

, Boss," Lor

her eyes wide with tears

ll, angel. I swear to you, we'll bring her back." But even a

ething unspoken, and neither of them noticed the unmarked car trailing them fr

i Calabria, it was quite late. The air felt heavy, thick wit

er. "We'll find Gianna," he said quietly, but

st piece of her world. "She's all I have left from be

ntly, his tone both command and c

et authority in his voice. She

s contrasted the cold, creeping dread in her chest. "I ne

e said. "I'll make u

possibilities of who, how and why. He pulled out his phone, typing a coded message to his men to double the surveillance p

eadying. By the time Talana returned, wearing a plain black outf

," he sai

lt normal, two people sharing a meal in the soft hum of cand

er fork. "I should go," she said,

brushed her skin. "Please," he murmured, brushing his

touch burned, steady,

ispered, her de

ching, laced with desperation. The world seemed to stop around them, th

knew too well. Talana glanced at it

t?" he asked

If you want to see your friend alive again, meet us at the

t me this much," he said slowly, "to risk yo

t, Max, please... I need to go alone. They'll know i

Alright," he said, though his voice carried steel. "But you won't be alone. You'll think you are, but my eyes

"Morelli," a grave

two or three of your best men to stay back, hidden. She

replied Don Roberto Sa

sure they keep distance," he added.

nchiano replied

her. "It's done,

d. "What d

ou come back to me

ords. "Who are you reall

ready for. "I'm most people's nightmare," he

ulled her close, one hand at the back of her neck, his thumb stroking along her

silenced every doubt. It was slow, deep, and filled with all the thi

his hand on her cheek, eyes burning

smile before turning aw

mo stood there for a long moment, staring into the night. Then his phone buzze