Painted Sins

The last few days had been a whirlwind-threats, gunshots, and now

with emotions I couldn't read. "Aria," h

"About what, Lorenzo? How I ruined yo

out survival," he said, pouring two

key filling my nose. "I was doing fine before you showed

ause from where I'm standing, your world wa

burn distract me from the truth in

oth of us, Aria. They're using your gallery to launder money and my family's

rking together is the answer? Lorenzo, I lef

ite everything, I still care about you. And ri

y of gunshots and broken glass w

gather information. I have contacts who can trace the money, and you," h

You want me to look at

ery wasn't picked by accident, Aria. There'

pread through my chest. "And what happen

erious. "That depends on wh

wn. "What's that

t means five years ago, you ran from something. Or s

wn. "I'm not the same scared g

," he sai

d through the house. Lorenzo reached for h

he whispered, movi

oices. One was Marco, Lorenzo's right-han

a hand, telling me to stop. He peeked arou

it?" I

ve got Marco," he replie

t. "Caruso! We know you're here!

e was trying to figure out a way to

have an idea," I whi

explained. "Aria, no

," I insisted. "You

efuse. Then, with a nod, he ha

n stepped out from behind

out, my voice ste

I recognized their leader-Viktor, a sh

Rossi, or should I say, Emma Collins

as my heart raced. "I'm he

could you offer that's wor

n painting you've been looking for. The one that co

narrowed. "You

the phone, pretendi

ned at the fake ph

tering glass. Smoke filled the room as Lore

my heart pounding. Gunshots, shouts,

men were on the ground, disarmed. Lor

cern in his eyes. "A

ut unharmed. "I'm

e quickly turned serious again. "We

my arm. "That was brave," he said softly

and fear. "I told you, Lorenzo. I'm n

you're not. You're mu

dn't help but wonder if he was right. And more importantly, I w

in my mind drowned out by the pounding of our feet and the realizat