ON MY KNEES FOR THE DON

ne's

loud. It wasn't amusement. It was fear clawing its way out.

eathless. "Of all places...

d through the air, cold and c

o keep my voice steady. "No. I was

real name. I hadn't told him the truth two days ago. Rule number on

s Vi

fr

. My re

r

d it. Like he owned me. Like he

e o

p and cold. "Ni

invited to the party. I used her name to get in, then met you and jus

mach dropped, instinct flaring. I didn't need to ask who they were-

the kitchen. The third disappeared down the hallwa

My voice cracked hi

Stephanie and Lauren stepped

y," Dante said, turn

hind the counter, scowlin

ch. "No one you'r

wed his eye

blade. "Exactly. Say it. 'No one.' Say it until it sink

f it silenced the whole place. His pres

bling hand. "We can't l

ie, there are worse things t

rept down

w that much, what else did he know? Where I lived?

Lauren said, fierce and locked on

ilently warning he

rward-tall, calm, control

back down. "

d flatly. "Not

s already gone. The kitchen staff kept stealing nervous glances,

asn't a hostage situation in disguise. Like the man com

me again. I didn't move. Every muscle was frozen, eve

voice low and cold. "You

. "Not an undercover reporter eithe

abbed my wrist. I flinch

asked, voice steady de

Then, without warning, he leaned in,

ch. I blinked, confused. "What

urned into mine like he was piecing

ne put you up to using your friend's name to

ng. "No one sent me. Why wou

eone coached you. There is no way in hell t

id he really think I was a setup

ting the half-truth. "I left.

e you got wha

anned all that-seduced you into

om his grip, but he held o

for a woman who's

s. V

hs together, tryin

low off steam. If I'd known w

ho I was,"

, threatening me. If anyone's

es cooled, barely. "I'

"Could've

Lauren pacing outside, probably

t. It's a fact-finding mission. I want to know

ou asked so

t. "I'm not going to hurt you-u

ething flickered in his eyes when he

ome dumb joke about my cleav

d his shoulders and ta

hind us shattered