The Empire of Darkness

l

e the clinic

m scared. Not

dangerous places, from replaying the way Gabriel Moretti invaded my space,

I shouldn't feel

ble when I stitch up a pa

my skin, and that infuriates

at evening, and he walks in like he owns the damn

sn't just enter a r

ting. This time, there's no blood on his clothes, no sign of

r, his dark eyes sweeping th

ys this reckl

"Are you always

rk. "When

, every movement is deliberate, calcula

that I feel

lp the other night," I sa

between us in a way that makes my br

t let him get to me. I won't let him

my own p

mused. "No

m. "I don't w

I've just said something

in my chest. "You think you can just

oice is quiet, but it cuts like stee

gainst my ribs.

h lifts in a slow, kno

nfuriating.

but he follows, refu

want from m

yal

ds a chill d

assessing. "I need a doctor. Someone who d

r laugh. "And you

ow it

in his voice

"You don't know a

something." He tilts his

t let it show. "You don't kno

per. "If someone's after you, that makes you vulner

pa

you're

catches i

i

, that possessive

e it. I shou

now what he'

tec

fe

with th

myself to keep my voice

his eyes-something d

won

alle

arn

between us i

he reaches into his jacket and

ree

rs is a pendant-a tiny

pen

to me like a bul

years ago, before I

's here. I

that?" My voice i

It was found in an alley. Next

orld

o

ght I fled Italy. If it's here-if

n are closer t

t down. Gabriel Moretti may be dangerou

pulse thundering.

erate smirk c

lready

are a deat

salva

n't decided

sleep th

staring at the pendant, the

warning.

is still h

attention of the most p

around the pendant,

ust Gabrie

t not have

y past is co

only one who

ies me more tha