The Mafia lord's Addiction

at tighter around herself as she walked briskly away from the hotel, every step pulling her further from Archie

ng deeper, something darker. She had the strange feeling that he hadn't been threatening her just to prove a point. No, he'd been trying to protect her

her from her thoughts. She checked the s

u, girl? Thought yo

l her. Layla had warned her against this investigation more than once, and as

ot held up.

l. The streets grew quieter as she reached her apartment, but even as she unlocked her door and stepped inside, a chill li

r and leaned against it, trying to steady her breathing. Her gaze drifted to her cluttered desk, where her laptop and stacks

folded piece of paper caught h

g the words scrawled across the page in neat, measured handwriting: Curiosity

ure, but she didn't need one. Archie's words echoed in her mind, and she could al

his was no longer just about her father's death or finding the truth-this was personal. She would find out everythi

fingers tapping restlessly against her mug. Layla sat across

you walked in here." Layla leaned forwa

feel the weight of Archie's gaze, the unsettling warning he'd left be

She took a sip of coffee, hoping t

rrible liar. Ever since you started looking into this whole m

s words. But the thought of walking away now,

ing here-I can feel it. Somethi

f that something gets you killed? You think

before. She didn't know what game she was playing, or what the rules

I'm being

features. "Just... don't lose yourself in thi

shake off the lingering dread. "Don

mething in motion, something she couldn't stop even if she wanted to. And as much as she wanted to believe she

her phone buzzed again. She didn't recognize

el

as smooth, familiar, and

g to keep her tone even. "To

nd mocking. "Still

does that mak

steel beneath the calm. "But you should

uld stop trying to

ark smile on his face. "You're bold, I'll give you that. But boldne

plied, surprising herself

softer, almost amused. "Careful, Miss

ike danger

mate in the sound. "Then I'll make sure you have a front-row seat." He

r spine. But instead of fear, a strange exhilaration pulsed through her. Archi