Love Against the Bloodline

d. His brow arched, his voice skeptical and deliberate. "...a problem

s tone wasn't angry. It was worse; disappointing. "What's so deep about it that you can't sh

statesman beside Marsell. "You're in this

eavy and tight like the se

in his seat. Something stirred in his chest. Maybe it was guilt. May

gan, voice gravel-thick and pleading, "I appreciate you taking this mee

d towards Marsell "-went through

We came hoping to leave with a solution

d together, "can't you feign ignorance... just fo

was a

ie

ld

av

something old and worn. "In all my years as a freelance businessman... the one thing I've learned-the only truth

em fee

u came from... to know whe

cker of pain, shame, or maybe both

uttered, barely audible. His voice tr

who has made too many enemies and watched too

ntil Irish spoke-and detonated it. "I

e. Even Mars

resting his foot on one knee. "

w. You're businessmen-sharks in suits. Y

contact you... when I b

"Have a nice day, gentlemen." He

t them. No, Solomon and Marsell didn't leave feeling defeated. Their

ir sense of satisfaction-if trust was the currency, they'd b

ormed ideas on a napkin, Solomon stepped out into the corridor and signaled his

city's tax registrar. Bribe, threaten, fabricate-do whatever it takes. I want Irish's ent

. No physical harm... not yet. Just financial suffo

sappeared into the st

d under his breath, "Trust is earned... e

t one rule about shadows-they always s

uca stood with the file in his hand. The file. A piece

front door. Then; "Bro... do

air. Luca froze. That voice.

of a weathered hoodie, eyes pleading. His name was Matteo; calm-h

s?" Matteo asked. "Is this really wh

e name Angelica hit lik

turned into this cold, obsessed version of yourself-do you really thi

m like a man too tired to carry his own rage. His ey

ly, heart torn betwee

voice cracking as he dropped

.. our life..." He looked at Matteo, e

They took our father's company, our mother's pride, fired me unfairly, everyth

swallow

er's shoulders. "You're all I've got now. And I'm all

d faintl

t kill him. I won't take a life." H

m. From the shadows. Quiet. Unseen. If I can

d formed a fist-like a sil

ress conference was about to begin-a tightly orchestrated event meant to kill th

to you. Said it was urgent." Dhaval took the plai

was a ph

eath c

is trusted men-caught in a grainy photo-spreading it

o his chest. A panic bloomed behi

t, cruel script: "Be sure to tell your interviewers that

ees buckled

e curtain. "Sir Dhaval? We

d. He looked up at the mirror acro

whispered.