The Reaper's vow

glow of neon signs and the hum of expen

cy-blue eyes locked on the estate in the hills-the DeLuca mansion. Th

he pistol in his hand. Ton

ckles in his ea

he entrance. Back gate is u

-he doesn't need to. L

t the mansion before dis

omes for Salv

he DeLuc

room with effortless grace, a mask of contr

being celebrated, but she knows the t

sive suits, men who shake hands over champag

tore DeLuca, is t

guards seem uneasy. Conversations are hu

ing is

doesn't k

aper S

hadows, taking down two gu

r-straight to Sa

ways-the same halls where he once lived, befo

tch against the

's all it will t

final corner, he isn'

omes face-to-

ia De

that burn with defiance-a prince

hands steady. S

?He doesn'

ds, slamming her against the wall. Her breath catc

n dodges easily, twisting her arms behin

go," she

his voice a low

ight, pr

n react, dark

t hits the floor. Lorenzo's

os

into his arms, his

ns," he says.

ling Salvat

ould b

ll take his most v

Valeria

ze she belon

hrough the halls of the DeLuca estate, his

he hadn't just taken the da

he hum of celebration below, obliv

hrough his earpiece. "Adri

d the warning. Ti

he estate's perimeter. Guards patrolled near

y as p

ion, Valeria's limp body held against him. She was light, smaller than he

d, Lorenzo was waiting by the op

eyes flicking to Valeria.

er into the bac

hed against the pavement as they sped away from the

mansion loomed in the di

atore DeLuca realize

d be to

Awak

ing Valeria

econd

heavy, and the faint scent of gunp

light illuminated the space around her-a warehouse, empty e

ded as her gaz

from the

who had

ists bound behind her back. Pan

in a world of criminals. She

her shoulders, leve

e," she

his blue eyes

tion to be making

e made her

he was now-Ad

ather had eras

sted. She had h

t crime families in Los Angeles-until her

y Adrian

just kidn

in. "If you're going

, as if amused. "Killin

ut she kept her voice stea

front of her, his g

ather to suffe

d slithered d

t for the first time, she realized j

ghosts ha

think taking me will break hi

men like him. He values power. Control." His lips curled

efusing to let him see the

down, she k

would not c

But because her disappearance wa

steel into her voice. "You'r

is presence tow

you, p

e wors

re which of t