ilent, save for the rhythmic scrap

directly opposite Donat

at the table-she wasn't family, not yet-but her

said. His voice was rough with gravel and

ing the accounts, D

's aspiring *Consigliere*, who

ilently slid a stack of do

" I said, my voice steady. "Parasitic expenses. Lux

g. He glared at me over

s," Alessandro said

strative cost," I replied, not looking at him. I kept my eyes

rough the pages.

tability above all else.

a finality that echoed in the room. "Cut all discret

," I

is fork down against

nner," Donat

the garden, a book open on my la

e tearing from

She was holding her phone, h

spotted me, she immediately switched masks. Her rag

st be a glitch. Alessandro said I

ook, feigning indiffere

act instantly. She stepped closer, invadi

d out to g

bruptly. "Pe

oft, muddy grass, then at the gazebo wh

gasp, she crumpl

lutching her ankle. "

athetic pe

it w

ables. He was still in his riding g

e ground and me s

you do?"

t ask. H

arms. She buried her face in

about the accounts," Aria

uch her," I

o demanded. His eyes w

" I

ey looked at me with disdain. To them, I was the jeal

ssandro spat. "Jealousy

ward the house, cooing at he

lone in t

on burned my

ernoon, I went

wn at the r

He was leading a hor

ched painfull

lion that I had trained for three years. He was

anded the re

ed, patting Obsidian's

said. His voice carried up to the balcon

ne railing until

heating on me. H

ces of my soul to a woman

way from t

defending m

me to sta