OL

sali

a word, but I could

glass of his bulletproof truck while

ng all gentlemanly and even stopping to help gather

asn't my grim reaper

my chest constricted, and I realiz

s of tense, heavy s

we're not

of his presence, ignoring the fact that we were locked i

lack lashes, the first few buttons of his

apart. "I'm jus

one b

oked

Where

into my purse, ig

texts were starting to get on my nerves. I wondered if I should press Viktor about the informatio

curiosity. His long, black-clad legs slanted toward mine

ghs with sweaty, shaky hands. My heart rate picked up, and I began

nd too

thing precious, twisting it in the dim inner light of

s to my fingers. "

inst my tight corset

answered

length of my fingers, inside my p

hot," he

his demise. How very criminal of me, but he didn't see

s exactly what I wanted, avenging papa, bri

, probably as urgent and deadly as min

painted a heat trail

d me closer, and my pu

ituation, Rosa." He murmured, his burning gaze o

ly he

voice came out breathy, the material of my dress heavy and scratc

Have you found

ze straight on, stealing a glance at his lips, and back up to hi

the first time, his gaze dropped t

faster than his hand r

ainst my better judgment,

hispered, inch

who knew someon

to his thigh, ste

r," I

e cracked

and tightened his

wouldn't s

❦❦

R 1 -

WEEKS

sali

onsigliere, had said, pressing a heavy palm to my bac

ds stole the last of my strength. I sa

felt uncomfortable. I stepped back, shaking and sob

ge up memories of him from my childhood. All I recalled was a brooding man surrounded by

s blazed warmly and invitingly, as if waiting for its owner to w

o leave, when Marcus stopped m

hesitate to call," he said, his dar

to be in his fifties, maybe sixties. I was only

ht nod and l

ldhood bathroom, I gripped

died fifteen years before

ip

d pieces of my father's letter. A letter of apology, for signing a contract that I wa

ng it had made me used to it, just like the years of grief I carried for my mamma, and now for my pap

ger in the back seat had somehow managed to kill two of the most powerful mafia bosses in Ne

I felt like a new person, which was a necessary change. I woul

ten to protect me from the life he led. The mafia had

the signed contract I'd found hidde

nching the counter. Why send me to the

endent, Topolina." He'd said, only to

Did he know he was going to die? Or was it a deal made in despe

wirled until my

nger for the sake of "security." Just graduated at t

cure my fat

lead, especially not one raised out of stat

ed respect and silenced disrespect with the soft pull of a trigger. It always worked. I'd hea

oot, bluff, and negot

ad to survive