e la

throated, arrogant bray of amusement that e

ou need to work on your lying. Matteo doesn't do relationships. He do

t. You want to sting me. But saying you're sleeping with the Don? That's dang

ffee table, flipping a page casually. My heart was ham

oom. Look, Matteo told the Family he's bringing a fiancée to the gala. Some orphan girl he found

er. An orphan. A nobody. That was the

his watch. "Since she has no family. Can you imagine? Me, walkin

eo hadn't told him t

the irony almos

said. "Sofia is probably

this for us. Once she remembers, I can let h

" I repeat

ed his phone out as it buzzed. His face softened in

his charade, Elena. Go back to

l

back to my

ed Luca, Matteo

Luca answered on

ments," I said. "And the

does not

steel. "I am buying him a suit for the wedding. Unles

ill text you

ning my hands over Italian wool and charcoal silk. I chose a

notification from the security system at my old apartment

tected: F

up the ca

was tossing garbag

dropped.

y books. The painting I

rang. It

athless. "Sofia is coming over. If she sees your stuff, it mig

staring at the grainy image of my life being

ly. "I'll buy you new stuff. Better s

," I said. "L

ung

g out of a boutique in the c

er-in

fr

m. She looked angelic in a white sundress, a ban

like he wan

"Dante told me everything! That you're Matteo

d with me. Play alo

Sofia,

emembered my favorite color today! It's blue! We'

hink-" Dan

grip was surprisingly strong. "Matteo i

. He was sweating

k curiosity taking ho

for the Triads, but the food was

a spicy! I remember I used to

ent she

was liquid razor blades for him. He u

by?" Sofia asked, looking at him

wed hard. "Y

ling like a cauldron

t into Dante's

te

his hand clench under the table until his knuckles turned whi

lf to keep her happy.

was eating from t

me under

he part. Don't

the text,

er. He wouldn't even endure a

iter tripped

refill pitcher of

d. The pit

right between

slow down into

es widen. I saw

't look

lun