Queen of Shadows

. She knew she'd been caught in a place she was never supposed to see. Still clutching the Ope

e a lethal whisper as he closed the distance between them

and the man I'm married to," she replied. "Or maybe I'm trying to u

ce settling into an unreadable mask. "Your family is part of the reason we're here, after all," he sa

every bit," she countered. "After all, isn'

th the darkness in his gaze. "You're bold, I'll give

essa's pulse spiked as he opened it, flipping through the pages she'd gli

oice dangerously low. "But understand this, Alessa. You're in no pos

ut I'm not some helpless woman. My father raised me t

t." He stepped back, sliding the file into the pocket of his jacket. "But keep in mind, allia

im see her fear. "I wouldn't dream of betraying you, Luca," she

eel and walked out of the room, leaving her alone in the dim light. The door

isk another confrontation with Luca, not without more leverage. She needed allies,

he froze, wondering if Luca had come back. But w

" he said, his vo

closed the door quietly, glancing aro

tense. "What were you thinking, Alessa? Yo

ot here to be Luca's obedient little wife, Rocco. I'm here to protect

You don't know Luca like I do. He won't tolerate defiance

steady. "You and I both know that Luca's hiding things. T

ted uncomfortably, clear

he said reluctantly. "But if we're going to do this, we have

ly, someone who understood the risks as well as

ge Carmen had told her about. The air was thick with tension as they navigated th

ing for?" Rocco asked, hi

ments. "Anything that ties Luca to my family's downfall. Th

ng crates filled with ledgers and records. Alessa's frustra

ing up a small envelope. "

s a picture of her father, standing beside Luca, the two of them shaking hands. But her

spered, staring at the

ing together. That woman was one of Luca's associates back then, someone wh

ograph was proof that her fat

he photograph tightly. "If my father was involved wi

e're in even deeper than we thought. Luca's not going to l

ve hardening. "Then we'll make

rs. If Luca had orchestrated her father's death, then everything she'd been taught was a lie. A

they heard footsteps approaching. Alessa froze

shadows as the door creaked open. Alessa hel

cured in the dim light. Alessa strained to see

ng something was amiss. After a long moment, the

leasing her arm.

dded. "To

at the figure might return. But as the seconds st

her room. She knew now that she couldn't stay passi

photograph to her chest, her mind racing with a single

, she'd stop at noth