Rising From Ash: The Mafia Queen Returns

na

ted server I had accessed from

cceptance letter from a re

a lif

Elena Rossi existed outside

ed hollowed out, my eyes bruised by dark circles of exhaustion. But deep inside, wher

raight to my dressing room, the silenc

from the back of the close

nd necklace Dante had draped around

ol

had presented to me the night I

ea

ox. They were payment for services re

oked at my

eighed down my finger-a shackle of comp

led i

lt naked. It

oom, where a fire was already crackling, fig

ng over the d

ange light like a dying star. I didn't feel sadnes

sed i

e iron grate before fal

ned my journal. I picked up a pe

haracter in his tragedy. I am

le

od in the

ocked. He ne

o room for argument. "The Genovese family i

request. It

turn to

" I

d was deafening, sucking

use

d to meet his gaze. "I'm not feeling well. I w

he room, bringing th

y was cha

growled, closing the distance between us.

are made

bored of his anger. I w

y looked at me-for th

dropped t

e lack of

the empty dr

ease crossed his face,

you doin

aid. "Close the do

g moment, his jaw workin

if he wante

kis

kil

, slamming the door so hard the wi

onto

o force my heart rate down, tryin

, it wasn

ng around my spine, crushin

a ball as agony radia

ensation of slick warm

N

t n

too

up, but the roo

in my ears, I heard

sa's

tched.

confirmed it. My levels are

hand clutchi

ab

the door and cracked

the hall, holding Va

was tra

relieved. He

ked, his voice rough.

ce in his chest. "A piece of Marco.

ed his arms

ness that shattered whate

child while his own flesh a

physical blow, stealin

raction ripp

tasted copper, desperat

amed, he

uld t

d own t

but the nursemaid to

Vanessa's hair, his h

l," he whispered. "We

lready a

t to my

the door

wood, sliding down

der cracked l

rm had

e glass, matching the

no cho

had to

o leave

ould d