wall. His arms were sleeved in black tattoos

self, twirling a butterfly knife betwe

ne stab me or some

racking his knuckles. "Or we co

typing rapidly on a device in silence. His mind

one hand resting on the steel weapon strapp

hen you can cru

er like she owned it, hips swaying

sed to glare at everyone, esp

on that mission, Vixen," she said sharply, he

iper" Ace said, moving

rched on the edge of the table and reapplyi

oo. It's been a while since the Bos

Viper's direction

r thigh, pulling a thin blade from her str

en was

side, the knife clinked

oo slow,

d forward, j

han you, but no one's re

a low laugh

that conversati

her tablet, her expr

at? Being bit

a curved blade,

anyway. She ki

was e

ack. "Fuçk all of you

couldn't h

n your ego on

sted and flung another b

knife embedded in the wo

gri

ve to do better

frustrated growl

as silent

ead and turned to Blade with a g

here. So maybe lear

up and le

nning as he retrieved t

ust wanted

the room one a

and Vixen

ly, still perched on the tabl

yes raking over her with t

ous this morning

ng up with that signa

dang

t of him, lips parted just

d, Ace. I've got a

lked out, leaving the scent of

smiled

a

•

O'S M

, her bare feet touching the co

er she had taken a slow, warm bath that did little

ained maids who said nothing and avoided

down the long hallway and d

dor that opened into what looke

line. Weapons of all kinds lined the walls which are blades, firearms,

, Aurora

it up, but it felt heavy, too heavy for her weakened arms

yes caught a portra

softly at her shoulders. The painting looked freshly preserved, the frame immaculate. W

ra s

ghten. Beautiful, yes, but there was sadnes

ame th

es crunching against gravel,

backed out of the room qu

st in time to see guar

ed out, relief f

s blocked

r me" she said firmly,

n they met hers. Her bag of clothes sh

" he br

s, hugging him tightly. S

, his brows were furrowed with

then shook her head.

sister? How's

said gently. "But you haven't answered m

he ground. "It's... happen

s the weight of everything she was c

•

T THE CR

purred to a halt

wound a man's soul. Her blonde hair was pinned up, exposing the nape o

sa came out wearing

. Her job wasn't to shine. Her job was to see everything, remembe

ds strai

ion?" on

epped forward, close enough for her pe

he said in a thick, foreign

is tablet. There sh

and step

to the Cr

ce buzzed in

tuds, hairpins, subtle piercings, a designer

floor. Two guards outside. Code on the door changes

didn't

from mirrors. Her job? Create noise if needed, sp

e was already scouting the hallw

rooftop two buildings over, a sniper rifle slung across

acing north are now lo

top and leapt to the Den's

ed him with a silent chokehold

and dropped into th

ion" he w

staircase, hips swaying. She reached

s expecting

ised a brow.

ing his head into the wall. The second reached for his gun

own, silent

linch. Sylvia'

ridden the

epped

her couch, cigar lit, shirt slightly open. Hi

ed looks goo

n sm

seduction" she purr

d in silently. Rosa stoo

s weapon, trained right on El

leather couch, swirling brandy in a g

e stunning in pe

s the same thin

seat beside him. "I like a wom

e

id across the glassware, her fingers tra

iece, Sylvi

to dose him before th

brandy into the glass. As she did, a tiny capsule

ed it to

tnerships"

glass and downe

rushing her thigh. "I've wai

feel the curve of her waist

er jaw, thumb graz

lowly, and hungrily

she pulled away like a cat

chest with a single finger, "we just

yes dazed. "Yo

rds sl

ead dropped ba

co

ralized" Vix

shadows, already opening the

d, pulling out a small black case

r ear

ou've got two minutes befor

eet silent on the floor. "Exit through the

anded Vixe

Elijah's a

ssed Elijah's cheek. "Th

they arrived hair in, not a

t the car, engine

rs slam

sion wa

efore Elijah Varga e

•

MATTEO'S

damp hair clinging to her bare shoulde

s jacket was off. Shirt sleeves rolled

fr

r sides as her heart ski

id no

loo

in silence as his gaze raked her in. Li

nnerving calm only a mons

er and his fingers brush

stif

he raw mark seared into her skin, hi

ice dr

is for a

of the branded M, now red

arke

, his breath hot

another man touch

parted, but

re he h

that makes me look

His knuckles dragged along her collarbone, then stil

to make it cle

e mine. And

s hand wrapped around her

drag her

on where the lights g

pen a heavy

s, chains, a chair an

e" she whispered

them with a soft click t

ou..." he repeated, circling

ruly means" Then silence, onl

his fingers running along

ething, a cle

s of

tered, blood-stained, as if

her. The shards clinked against the cold tiles, jagged edges gl

omach

ippers" he said,

he whispered,

take. Th

r feet met the cold flo

to watch another man wrap his

d you so that even your

at the fl

ered like the p

it" He sa

head, tremblin

as calm. Too calm. T

tilted her face upward,

merciful. You sho

let

idn't

ned in, w

it clearer

n't ever f

tepped

y cracking like the glass beneath her. And slowly because de

step

ire. Sharp, instant, hot. She let o

ed the o

ped

e glass bit deeper. Each step

eyes neve

g that looked like hunge

n he created for her, shaking and bleeding he step

he wh

u'll re

aid n

burned, br

er skin now,

the moment she ste

ls. Her breath was shallow. Her body, trem

ing up her legs like electric current, and yet

t warning, h

gh

tching his shirt, but Matteo didn't loose

hed the crown

pposed to be mi

ll slit the throat of any ma

er happened, he pressed a