Hidden Underworld

spoken a wor

e of her sweater as if holding herself together. Ali watched her from afar-this woman

killed

ld kil

find the words t

standing in the doorway,

to say, Ali? That I understand? That I forgive you fo

d. "I just want

let

ced deeper th

ow, Lorenzo's allies will come for you. They k

. "Then maybe I shou

prote

tion," she snapped.

nce stretched

the door

e pale. "Boss, we've go

e dropped.

authorities. They're not just after

"It wasn't any of our

hesit

the entire operation on you. An

skipped. "

he one Interpol ha

the fireplace, phone in hand, li

was no

his own ranks h

ot just to end his reign-but to d

ding

oom where she sat curle

nymore," he said. "Pack

ok up. "Are w

aid. "We'r

private airstrip j

network, but not far enough from danger. Ali had allies

d Sera stayed in separate rooms. But their hear

ed into the hall, bar

eaned

ar was saying, "we have to

s calm. "She's

an't b

c

being killed-but because a small part of her wondered: Was she

eded a

he approached A

nt to

surprise

u. Someone close. If they used me, I need

d. "This isn'

she said softly. "Bu

hit

ll work with Omar. But

faintly.

st smil

mo

er phones, dead bank transfers. She was quick, observant, emoti

orenzo's men," she said one night. "They were

ed at th

nearly made him punch

rwa

ultant. His ch

ery weakness Ali

Marwan in for a meeting

, all charm an

ed me," Ali

didn't

I got tired of watching you lose yourself over

you endangered her lif

fe to remind you who you are. You're no

lled h

e, old

sh

. But n

t, Ali returned

ench, looking u

nd the leak

es

someon

ide her. "

his hand. "Are w

oked

honestly. "But if we a

no

me in days, he felt

room in Rome, another ene

as sentiment

ted Al

era b