Kingdom of Ash and Smoke

E

ll echoed thr

Knock

ain, calm as stone

mind.She got up slowly, quietly, feet bare on the hardwood. She didn't make a sound as she approached t

did h

did h

had he gotten i

s closer now. "Open

ontrolled threat that made her stomach twist and heat i

Valen

me like the devil had decided to wear tailored Italian wool and come coll

eping her expression fla

f I did, I wouldn

tered.And her entire apartment suddenly felt ten sizes too small.He didn't sit. Didn't take off his coa

distance. "Wha

your brother'

nt. Not a

d turned

ollowe

n't waver. "I d

g to break the stare. "I ha

eren't

her hear

a step t

A message. I want

n't k

o me, even now.

"Wouldn't be the fi

between them stretched tight. Too tight. Like

you understand. That safe? Matteo wasn't protecting himself

," she snapped. "

er for a long,

didn't kill y

u know

n't de

nd steady, until he was close enough that sh

r. "You think I came h

use you don't know if you s

t. Just for a be

er brave or stupid, maybe both, but something in her wan

ca," she whispered. "But

xpect.He reached up-slow, deliberate-and brushed a piece

y what you are

st a little, enough to tilt he

h hovered ju

. and we both g

ing could tip over the edge, he stepped back. Fast. Controlled.Like he'd almost lost some

e, you stay away from that safe. And you stop as

if I

over his

he sm

eautifu

ing next time."And

U

d on her door.But when he saw the black SUV pull into Matteo's old lot,when he realized she'd beat him there,he'd nearly turned that building to ash trying to find her.And that text she got?Someone

el

t have the

u s

he wasn't sure of anything

t one

her brother was hi

e chance to use it.And he didn't kno

f he s

Chapt