Roman

retrieve my bag

ethos

wned that hadn’t been pai

vate clinic were dimmed, casting long, steril

hythmic thud of

, staccato cl

ob

d resting protectively on her still-flat st

ere?" sh

ick. It was sharp

ealized by now tha

g to brush past her. "I don’t h

surprisingly strong, her manicured na

you?" I asked, looki

a smile with no w

eason to love me that doesn’t violate his damned code of honor. I gave him that reason

oved m

ching, but I managed to c

he heavy door

ouette fille

l saw

nd. The arrogance evaporated, instan

ease don’t!"

he did the

elf down the l

to fall—but she screamed as if I h

side faster tha

knees, his face

l?" he

is shirt with trembling hands. "She said she do

ifted h

ze met

who knew me. It wasn’t the l

f the Capo starin

oubt in his ey

the v

ster," h

, his hands balled

e touch

y hand still gripping the railing. A coldn

idn’

dn’t

because he preferr

eras, Dante,"

hollowly in the

e securit

n’t he

s arms as if she were ma

s voice a deep, vibrating growl. "

ried h

convicted of a crime his

he camera mounte

light

th was

ment, I knew i

e video, he had a