Bound by blood and deception

isten

street noise behind him, the screech of tire

appening to you? Where are you

way from this. Don't look for me and don't return to

ng about? Where are you? P

attered the ni

n cold, her breath c

voice. Deep, c

ead. Le

ad? Who

, it can't be Luca

ne wen

over, but there was nothing. Just the crushing realization that h

Not fully. Not with every memory s

year

nes, still hear the faint static of the phone pressed agains

ye

en years of searching for the truth in the sha

into fists, nails b

ve ring cut thro

eyes sna

the desk, the screen glow

dn't a

It could be a client, a wrong numbe

g she couldn't shake, kept her sta

ng, she exhaled sh

emanded, her voice s

ence. Then a low, measured

her... meet me at Knox Bar. Midnight, don't fail becau

raighter, her p

u know my brother? Hell

ic

ne wen

her hand, her heart, beat a f

one

nce, someone knew the t

going to f

with the scent of cheap cigars, w

in streets, made the place look like the kind of es

itated at the entrance. The neon sign above flickered errat

her to turn back. T

for answers. And tonight, she

lf, she pushed

oices blending into a dull murmur beneath the soft jazz playing in the background. The

the back, his gaze locking onto h

s wai

re he nodded toward a hallway.

o you're dealing with, what if it's a trap. She kept on following the man

ors, and finally stopped in front of a private room guarded by two

w lighting, and a single round table at the center. A

y fr

a way that made her st

e. Piercing gray eyes that looked as tho

eves rolled up, revealing tattoos on his forearms

he radiated

just an ordinary pe

smooth, confident. "I was begin

er eyes. "Who th

rked. "Vict

eath c

She questio

through her. She knew who he was. Ev

of the Romano Crime Family. A man known

ntly her family'

ou're playing, but if you think I'm going to betra

slightly. "Your family? Tell me, Emily, when was t

w tigh

sn't