THE WRONG DE LUCA

ns. Laughter, soft and calculated, floated through the air, wrapped in a bow of expensive perfume and greed. Celeste De Rossi stood at the t

linked. Mafia royalty mingled like it was a red carpet event. But Celeste? S

no murmured without looking

look convincing, and stepped down the stairs with him. C

. This was war dressed in silk. And she was being handed off like an o

water-calculated, cold, charming when it suited him. Celeste played her part. She smiled, kis

n she s

n De

ust come back from the dead. Dressed in a black suit, collar

ldn't b

ction of a second. Not enough for anyo

oing here?" s

iano said tightly

his glass ac

eyes wer

race ten minutes later und

s: she neede

room on edge. No one acknowledged it, but everyone felt

arden lit in soft gold. Somewhere behind her, violins playe

ing in a powder room,

there, drink in hand, the smir

?" she asked, too

moothly. "And to meet the woman

ound like a de

u drink the

low laugh. "What d

ser. "I want to kn

use

e being fed a fairytale bef

art th

k Damiano what happened in Prague. Then ask yoursel

rned

s arm. "You can't just say th

her. "You're in a cage, Celeste. The

n he wa

h handshakes that had blood on them. And Celeste stood next to Damiano like t

n he hated. The way he offered his hand but never his back. The way

lethal

s about to

ed, Damiano raised his gla

ast," he said smooth

es cl

h trembling fingers. Th

n Julia

that don't

sh f

yes t

's smil

ited. "Don't worry," he said coolly. "I wouldn't drea

he air vanish

s like ice. "You'r

ompetition," Julian s

te. Held her gaze.

he br

e didn

an d

e war

ded, but the

no's grip tightened around Celeste's

gging her into one of the private loung

efusing to look away. "He said

d like a blade

e. But something flickered

os. That's what he does.

ment parties." Her voice wa

poison you, Celeste. He's nothing but

idn't

problem. Julian didn'

ginning of a truth

e and the staff had vanished into shadows, Celeste stood barefo

in like it w

asked, grabbing a bo

on't k

ed against the counter. "Y

e you were

r. "Funny. He was the on

hy

er De Luca. The more dangerous one. And Dami

t him. "So he tr

didn't

silence

ks you'r

I'd stay

lass down. "Why d

enough she could smell th

e marrying the

ft her in

me, she did