I Heard His Mind: The Don's Regret

ay at the Est

ed calm that betrayed nothing

ty lights sliding over the leat

Dante's suit jacket-the very same jacket I ha

shallow and even, but I knew better.

owns him. The thought wasn't mine, but I co

l with such force that the leat

lena. The Russians burned

fraying. "The Plaza. The Ritz. We own half the cit

ng into a register that vibrated with dark authority. "

deathbed, I promised

y in the air, laden with a

ve. Not yet.

ry slope when a woman

I pressed. "Apartments

a glance, his

d. Empty. She

him fully. "Do you think it is appropriate to have another

didn't

His silence was a

el, then Aria's old place. It's furnished. It's

ion flickering across

e moved out last week. She

se register in his e

of the women in the organization. We were merel

," Dante

She answered on the second ring, her vo

le

said. "Is your apa

ria said

fe place for a...

use, heavy wit

ofia?" A

"How did

yly. "And Luca mentioned Dan

into a knot. Even

sked, forcing my voi

id. "I'm not going back

e are

our diner on 5th

nte stayed in the car wit

d establishment, the air smell

, staring into a cup of black coffee as

in days. There was a bruise on he

t it and tugged her

ding a set of keys ac

you,"

me, her eyes dar

, Elena," s

h So

hey don't see us. They only see what we

opping to a conspiratorial murmur.

ld against my palm. "I don't

st of an expression. "Th

he car, the keys b

the backseat, talking t

the harsh, marble lines of his fac

w me, the mask slamming b

them?"

his lap. "She stays the

arted th

never known loss. The thought hit me like a p

g the city blur into streaks of

t was the only thing anchor

ng to Dante's hand for a mome

voice trembling perfectly. "I don'

month. The projection was so lo

uilding before driving away. The silence in th

to her," Dant

ctical," I

e snapped. "Her husba

, the dam finally breaking. "Do

s at a red light, the SUV

his eyes blazin

It is a contract. Don't conf

I cannot afford. His thoughts wer

a partner. H

n I had tried to love. The man I had hoped wo

ized Aria

e me. And he

ight draining out of me like

" I whi

drifted to my pocket. My fingers b

ne cannot fight a war for a man

browser and t

Ve