si'

e smell of

uite lavish and clean-but there was somethi

hat seemed to freeze everything in its path. Maybe it was because I knew who owned it. A

nerves. But she knew as well as I did that this wasn't just a party

on the marble like a countdown to the inevitable. Adriana was wear

t she had to hide her emotions around me, but I understood. We

ing a sip just to have something to do. It didn't calm my nerves,

e to wrap my head around the fact that Adriana,

n and rage, and it had only made me angrier. I would've

I wasn't interested in mingling, especially not with the mafia elite,

oward the corner of the

made my way to the corner, a h

rumbled behind

Ivan's right-hand man. A man I loathed

rms over my chest. He was tall, wearing his usual sharp suit, looking

to see me," he said with

rless laugh. "Is

ixed with something darker, something I couldn't quite place-fill

ran down my spine. He was too close. I could feel his presence

ile. I hated how easily he could get under my s

s voice dropping to a near whisper. "You, me, and Iv

"party" wasn't the only thing I'd been i

he smile didn't leave his lips

. Antonio never joked. And now, I was roped i

, shaking my head.

aid calmly, but the finality in

defiance. "Because I'm a woman? Or because

se if you don't, I'll make sure you regret it.

here was a tension in her shoulders. She had overheard the conve

anded, her voice clipped. "What do y

ng on his lips. "You didn't think this was just a part

what I had feared. It was never just a party. I look

, her eyes flashing with fury. "And I sur

yet, here you are. I'm sure you'll f

"You think this is comfortable? Being forced into your mess?

n he shrugged, as if my words meant nothing to him.

ou know, you could've just asked," she said bitterly.

kered for a moment, the barest hint of frustration cro

e for your tantrums. You're part of this whether

inside me again, my fists clenc

rate?" Adriana asked,

ence overwhelming. "Then you won't

stared into his dark eyes. I knew he meant it.

ld make us bend to their will. But for all my anger, all my

h, but it didn't matter. It didn't matter if I ha

Adriana, her face a mask of anger and disbelief, just as mine was. Our