se – Valeri

d her. The dim warehouse smelled of metal

the table across from her, arm

e they could strip her down to her bones, as if h

d to rega

aid, her voice steady. "My

ow, amused. "Is that w

ed into fists. "

but it didn't reach his eyes. There

ncess," he murmured. "Because t

ut she refused to let him se

refused

If you wanted me dead, I

d in Adrian's gaze before it

wouldn't

in front of her, so close she could

e admitted. "I do

h that she could feel t

need you d

ift motion, he pu

ed as the blade glinte

Instead, he reached behind her, slicin

me to react befor

sts, watching him caut

returned

wisted. "A te

toward the warehouse do

're strong eno

, leaving her al

state – Salv

his fist against the desk

ia wa

erson bold eno

n Val

come back t

underestimated the boy. He thought Adri

he had be

ed in the corn

enforcer, his mos

to him, his voi

my dau

ed once. "A

ssion twisted int

me hi

use – The

k for what felt like h

hadn't come

t one of

gotiating beh

't plan to

something inside

r legs unsteady but determined. S

use door w

ft it that wa

d out into the night air, the cit

he will c

ed her jaw

rned a

e shadows, Adrian w

unt B

e deserted street, her heart hammering in her ches

he was going-only that

nd deception. And right now, Adrian Valenti thought he

screeching cut th

he street ahead, its head

h

o a stop, her

alley. But if Adrian had men w

uld tu

o

choice wa

bandoned buildings, disa

erself against a wall, listening.

pened. F

his v

in the wrong dir

ri

didn't need to see hi

er golden eyes meeti

alley's entrance

Hands in

hased her through the

ard, forcing hersel

to see if you'd fol

ing that wasn't quite a smi

don't like

im light casting sharp shadows a

clenched a

ying a dang

so w

his jacket. For a split second,

a cigarette, lighting

ed between the

Valeria," he murmur

eath c

t." He tilted his head. "And I wa

ag before flicking

closer, his voice a whisper against

s pulse

moment, she kn

fusing to look away.

k deepened. "

act, his hand close

e o