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