ous bedroom mocked her imprisonment-ornate furniture, a crystal chandelier, and cream walls so pristine they could

renzo's words a

ather's betrayal. Someth

g made

he door, and before she

black with an elegance that screamed both

a clipped voice. "Eat. Y

food with a glare. "Tell me why

nce isn't an excuse. Your father worked with Lorenzo o

d. "My father's a s

ched a brow. "You reall

N

n you're more danger

-

he estate. His jaw clenched when he saw Elena pacing the room like a trappe

anca said behind him. "But some

that had just come in-Elena's ex-boyfriend, Alexander G

u think he's workin

d. "But the FBI is sniffing too cl

l have

ned. "Then we finish

-

y, weighing every movement like i

time, she found something-behind the dresser, a loose

a fold

hook as she

u're not safe. Find the ring. T

eath c

er's sapphire ring. She

always said

ew he'd hidden

in her bra just as

here, his expre

answers,

Elena sat up straighter, hiding the tremble in her ha

aid, his voice low. "But

anything," she replied,

this deeper than you realize. Years ago, he forged a document. Buried something inside your name-encrypted. A ledger fi

"And you thin

at least... the k

waiting for?" she

ps. "I don't hurt women, Elena. But

rward, face inches from his. "You think I'm l

bove a whisper, "you're more like

ompare m

that follo

orenzo said finally. "He had my brother executed

sliced l

now. Couldn'

he found suggeste

too

-

n through the barred window. She clutched

g. The

gift from her father before everything went dark. Sh

he l

ways

er explained fully. That was the same year her father stopped smiling. The s

all con

ne thing-her life was nev

-

screens, Rocco a

id. "Someone's in town. Al

ks for the Kodra family.

arching for

nder his breath.

-

bed her. She jolted awake as two men p

hat's go

one of th

folded. Her heart pounded. Had Lorenzo

or it felt like it. F

brought into what smelle

fold was

d in front o

y safehous

me without

o be stolen by wo

osed to make

stead, he pulled som

r's sapph

eath s

u get that?"

er. After I threatened t

led it back. "Not yet. You nee

ha

deadly serious. "Why

froze.

Just a cremation. And your father? He had

ees we

of hair from her face. "You think I'm your enemy, El

ared at

ds trembled, not just from fear, but from the whirlwind inside her. Her mother's ring. Her father's secrets.

, her voice husky. "Wh

ly," he said. "And because something tel

" she whispere

anded her

hitect-of blood deals, alliances, betrayals. He forged a bond with

him, lips pa

her and my older brother. Then he cut ties, burned evidence, and entere

ind r

r is hidden in this?" she

ncoded. The gem is synthetic-it's

whole time... the key to everything

no one would suspect a chil

se outside made

slid open. Inside were security monitors. A black SUV had stop

men," he

hudded. "How di

enzo growled. "But

hand. "We nee

-

adrenaline pushed her forward. Behind them, gunfire erupted. The walls shoo

th a mountain of rock. Lorenzo hit a sw

Ducati m

be kidding me

her a helmet.

ehind him. The moment she wrapped her arms around his waist, s

tight,"

idden exit just as the

-

y were miles away, s

ld stone chapel on the outs

ere for the n

peaceful. Elena sat in the f

her silently,

u o

augh. "No. But I'm

but not touching. "That's

ed at him.

ha

the FBI. You could've kill

e something in you. Something raw

te you," sh

ched out, br

at do yo

between them simmered-dang

admitted. "Dra

in. "You s

. A kiss born of fire and fury, of truth a

he di