sali

p at the ceiling of my childhood room t

mafia boss mode, or thinking about the situation with Viktor Marino, my heart rate picked up

e smell of artificial lilies hit me, but I kept sti

ago. I vaguely remember her trying to fill the void, but she never could. Not until I was sent to live w

on instead of sitting with my bleak t

ching her chest. "I didn't kn

ia wobbled over

ences, everything she meant to say but didn't have

rything to protect you. He didn't want to

fled,

e kitchen. You need to eat. Yo

made my way into the kitchen through the living room i

en I saw who was i

d to me, and I

ct had to begin, if I didn't st

myself to the spot as Marcus DeVries, and t

logies,

ame. Rosa sounded like he knew me. He didn't. He

d have known not to intrude so ear

his eyes on mine and not lower to my chest. I squirmed

ntinued after my stiff nod. "Leo is one of the few c

r's death," I f

ted your personal bodyguard, subject to

approached, respecting my state of undress. But the one n

duction after I've had my breakfast. You're welcome to

ned, bowing their heads slightly. I nodd

countertop, my breaths co

on came in with a robe, sensing my disc

and found Marcus alone

gize..." he started

you mean, 'one of t

be sure. In the mafia, you didn't just

her's death, the businesses were already struggling. I have me

One name puls

Viktor

ready seen it. The name shook him, and with what I already knew, I didn't

no family. Son of Darko

cted more than just an

led you

od ran

the phantom one. I wanted to twist the

his elder brother to rise in the ranks. And when tha

e, blood dripping from fingers, nostrils flaring in bloodlust. M

ut. I

lt for this. No matter how I bluffe

my mother died in. The house I was raised, and loved, in.

ies and assets my father owned, was w

dn't ge

ting with thi

like bile. I swa

hat he's rea