THE VELVET ASSASSIN

ons were not on

ere reserved for traitors, spies, and secrets too ugly for d

lar. The torchlight flickered, casting moving shadows on the dam

?" she demanded. "

p walking. "Proof

uld've warned me before they k

hey were that close. Whoever's playing th

a fell

feeling

more th

idor, Falcon pushed op

the ceiling ,unmarked folders, classi

the c

oodstained. Ruste

is?" Alessi

folder marked Ope

t and her wo

ere phot

Don Lorenzo Morett

e , General Vasari ,who si

one

-white imag

es

Wide-eyed.

llateral. Let

s nearly

'd k

ad spa

hed

for he

weren't overlooked, Alessia. You were bait

him, trembling

nswer, the steel

th spun

k cli

sil

s, a figure ste

ko

d by a black turtleneck and tai

t h

a

th hitched. "Y

he said quietly. "

im. "So what no

d. "Tell me who

cept, but Nikolai rai

eated, voice low.

man who signed my fathe

sion flickered.

ut you wear the crown

pulsed wi

trayal. V

e siren

sed. "They

ng it under her gown. "I'm get

"If you walk away now

with his. "Tha

ppearing into the tunnel

stood alone staring

d was cr

ldn't tell

ve Alessia Moretti