The Mafia lord's Addiction

ound the pen she clutched. The dim light of her apartment flickered as if even it was uncertain about staying. She leaned b

ntouchable. Yet for every rumor, every name she scribbled down, there was a part of

uzzed. A bl

e sounded steady-

h as velvet but edged in steel.

art pounding. "I don't ta

nica Jones. You've been qui

but she forced herself to stay ca

erous. "You think my business is just a story, something you can exp

around the edge of the table. "If ther

Then he spoke, voice quieter but sharper. "I'm not a man who en

out a shaky breath, but even as fear prickled down her spine, there was something

t know why she'd come-curiosity, or something dangerously close to pride. But she was here, and the

es." She looked up to find a tall man, sui

nside, the room was cast in shadow, the only light a sliver filtering through half-drawn

there was a flicker of something in his eyes that hadn't

eplied, voice stea

the seat across

un, but pride kept her rooted. She crossed the room, lowerin

e said, swirling the amber liq

shot back, though the trem

eyes glinting. "But you should know, Mi

n. "Some things ar

s his face, one that held

the feeling that he was seeing through every layer

think you'll find answers. That somewhere in this mess of yours, there's some noble

ip on the edge of her cha

ething like warning. "I didn't ask you here to toy with you. Walk away, and this... curiosity of y

ple disappear. Journalists get bought off or run out of town. You control this city because

s resting on his knees, his eyes dark and fixed on hers. "You think fear makes people weak, Veronica? No, fear mak

to stay steady. "And what about y

his steps. "But it might interest you to know that I wasn't always the man you see in

ubtful. "I don't see anyt

ember, when you dig into someone else's darkness, you end up dragging it back with you." He held he

hat left her with a mix of dread and strange exhilaration. She s

" He leaned back, his tone shifting, calm but deadly. "Wal

re than a whisper, but firm. "I'm n

I won't stop you. But don't come running when you find yourself in over your head." He

But a small part of her, the part that had driven her here in the first place, resisted. She forced her

he door, she couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted between them, something she wasn't ready to

felt the weight of his presence, an intensity that seemed to pull her in, despite every instinc