Painted Sins

els bouncing off the buildings. The threatening phone call and the break-in at my apar

brick wall, trying to calm my frantic thoughts. Who was af

t was just a stray cat or my imagination. But as the figure stepped into the fai

re

a mix of concern and frustration. "I

n from, the very reason I'd been looking over my shoulder for five yea

ed the air. A black SUV skidded to a stop at the

nd pulled me deeper into the alley. "Run!"

footsteps and shouts close behind us. Lorenzo led the

gasped as we tur

is eyes scanning the area. "Bu

e wall beside us. I couldn't stop

Lorenzo urged,

zo didn't slow down, weaving us through the crowd. I struggled to kee

id, pointing to a sleek blac

I'd left at the altar, the man who now led one of New York's most powerful

se in the glow of a neon sign. "Aria, I know you don't trust me

sn't the cold, calculating Mafia boss I'd expected. For a mom

, closer this time. The

ting him guide me int

, and the engine roared to life

weaved through traffic with terrifying skill. In the re

g?" I asked, tryin

lied, his focus on the road.

oiding a collision with a taxi. The angry

rning to face him. "How did you find me?

been looking for you, but not for the reasons you think. And those men... I have my suspicions,

But I'm nobody now. Just a galle

obody,' Aria. And I think you know more than you realize. Th

een so careful, so secretive. They were my backup plan if things went

talking about," I lied, my

hing like admiration in his eyes. "Still a te

window shattered in a spray of

shouted, swerving

still chasing us. Lorenzo's driving was in

ment," Lorenzo said, his voice tens

where he'd taught me to shoot "just in case." I'd thought it

n. It was heavier than I remembered, the weight of it a grim reminder of

my thoughts. "I need you to trust

The years had added a maturity to his handsome face. But his eyes-there was

ping the gun tighter.

lips. "Good. Because we're a

us. When we reached the middle, Lorenzo suddenly slammed o

d be ready to jump," Lorenzo instr

med, eyes wide.

of the old Lorenzo. "But it

nding as I placed my h

st upon us, their

enzo said, tensi

us now. I could see the men i

Lorenzo

ed, looking down at the dark water below. In that b

mp!" Lore

me. The last thing I heard before hitting the wat

, one thought filled my mind: H