The Mafia's desire

he room, but her thoughts kept circling back to the man she'd seen on t

rowd again. Maria pointed discreetly to a group of older men near t

is into shipping, though that's probably just a cover. And that woman-d

on her drink. "You ac

ed to date one of the Romano

n. "This isn't a party,

ok like prey,"

gged her shawl tighter, wishin

turned, conversations paused, as if some unspoken signal had swept

o was crossi

y pulled the tide. Men inclined their heads respectfully; women straightened

attention was

over the crowd before l

as he walked closer, each step deliberate, e

y, though her tone carried a note of e

g, she'd tried desperately to avoid it. Yet the weight of his stare was unde

. He spoke to no one, acknowledged no one. He simply lifted his glass of scotch slightly, a gest

a toast

way quickly, pretending to be fascinated by the string quartet. Wh

owly. "Oh my God

shaking her head. "He no

nded hollow, even

"You'll thank me for dr

wasn't

The air in the room seemed heavier now, charged with an undercurrent she couldn't name. Guards lingered at the

whispered that some

ey leave early. But before the words could lea

ting short, laughter dying mid-breath. The quartet faltered fo

w why. She only knew that the party's

aw Adrian Romano watching her once