w was t

ilverware polished to a deadly shine, flowers arranged with cold precision. The weddi

ht of it all pressed down like a

the book aside. She could hear the distant sound of voices

tobacco and leather seeped from the grand study nearby, where

, muffled screams and the we

was torturi

heartbeat was

en, she could hear her mother an

na's voice trilled softly. "Tomorro

f a cabinet. The wedding was supposed to be a symbol of peace, but a

d, forcing down t

s survival. And tomorrow,

g softly as she made her way to her secret refuge. An old

air. Mirrors lined one wall, cracked and scarred from years of strikes. This was

t expecti

me a smooth voice f

rms crossed. He was just a year older, with dark eyes

ropping her bag by the bench. Sh

o make sure everything was in place for

orrow... it feels like a dea

toward the ornate weap

family

ween them, charg

aid softly, nodding toward

h hitched. "Ho

ding it. Besides, I've been around

heart pounding.

oser, lowering his voice. "Just be careful. Matteo's no o

a storm raging behi

t to just su

n do

ly before curling around the hilt of her favorite. The dagger with the blackened steel

ingle flickering bulb above them. It wasn't just for s

t, rolling her shoulders

ation dancing in his ey

my with the handle of the blade, flipped it, jabbe

ent bled f

n at being

with a man who wo

the spare

used and looked at herself in the mirror. The cal

, you know" she m

inked.

No. My father. Just once. If h

tance between them. "You matter. You jus

just handed him a sec

ght

a brow.

d, the Bellanti fire

Enzo. I need to fe

de in his palm, sm

met

e. Enzo met her attack effortlessly, parrying with a practiced gr

thm that echoed through the underground gy

tugging at the corner of his m

nted you to

weep his legs. Enzo jumped back, barely avoiding

ster than

blocked it, then countered with a jab to her ribs. The breath whooshed

other up. Sweat gleamed on her brow

se her blade in defense. Their weapons collided with a

, close enough to smell the faint

and harder than the last. Enzo stumbled, barely keeping his footing. A fin

dagger, chest

blood from his lip. "You win tod

"I'm not here

r breath from the combat when t

maid ste

quivering slightly. "Your mother r

e the faintest nod. No words were needed w

he cold stone corridors, as they as

djusting the gold brooch on her silk robe. Valentina lounged near

for me" Au

ther t

for you. One that

tiffened

hidden compartment. From it, she retrieved a sealed black envelo

tti fami

his" her mother said, pl

wh

hly, pouring herself a drink. "Unless you thin

a second. "You want me to

nly one who can go. They won't open the gates for just anyone. And

led down Aur

A place soaked in secrets, deals, and blood. Whispers

led tighter aro

n this?"

ly. "Something that needs t

from the couch. "Try not to get

ned toward

ave imme

aid. "Enzo will driv

d at the

ettis may be allies but never

exited with a

the sky was already an ominous

serati, her fingers still curled around the sealed e

ragile alliance between the Bell

e main road, passing through a long stretch of woods

ny she'd seen before. Armed guards in black suits flanked the entry

a halt, one of the

in seconds, the gate buzzed and slowl

s fixed ahead. "If they ask questions, answer with cautio

nodde

coming in?

regret. "No one walks into the lion's den unles

od up as a few drops of rain began

nightmare... stone walls cloaked in ivy, high surveillance towers,

ed. He didn't introduce himself, only n

, then handed ov

lipped it into his co

seeing the Don

. Men like Salvatore Moretti

e and a torrential downpour unleashed ab

. "Come. You'll wait insid

pping into a long hallway that smelled of

ed the walls, every face hard-eyed and cold, l

r end of the hallway. The door shut b

k in her s

place. A crystal decanter of something dark sat on a nearby table.

amp coat and ran a h

of her family's mo

ll is in th

ghtning occasionally slashing the sky and momentarily illum

r ears. Her coat dripped faintly on the marble floor, her gaze d

dn't feel

ven c

ful, yes. Feared. But here...

ld

ar

dges of the steel chandelier above her to the silence that cloaked the w

de

outside hadn't b

ver her thighs, restle

d silently. More silent. More calcul

the body guard had placed the enve

t to see wha

was so important it had to be d

orm soak the front courtyard where Enzo's car w

s out

e was

on

many locked doors... and just enough darkness to

rms and turned ba

t envelope... it

ing about this

only the

her skin like a second layer of nerves. She peeled it off with tremblin

ot just from the cold... but

en she

, placed neatly on the counter l

for it and

a beat too long. Then turned, p

fr

art st

of shadows in the dimly l

ould ever mista

leather armchair like the whole world belonged to him, one leg

adable. Jaw car

de howled throu

silenc

peak. Couldn't think. Could only feel the

o loo

sm

. Le

. hello

out breaking eye contact. Rose f

authority. Darkness. Sin

inct pulling her away even th

pt co

ep back. T

back hit

she could smell the tobacco and leather on his skin.

her body, pausing at

e corner of his mouth

othing but my colors. You wear it so well

parted, but

ssing against the wall bes

he whispered, his breath brushing her ear. "But you... you walk into my loung

ust enough to me

lezza?" he asked, nonchalant, as if he

you scream so loud the

menace in his tone. That'

edic

ilt

ad

lt of her robe, and stopp

at p

had happened. Like he hadn't just threatened

f I wanted you bare and on your

could even blink, the cold steel of a pocket knife gleamed against th

wrong move, one twitch, and that razor edge w

k down to the whisper of cold me

conds stretched unbearably long. She expected the worst. The r

the sensitive skin of her neck. His lips. Not the slash of the blade, but t

at that contradicted the

tead, she felt him lean closer, hi

coming here. I won