Vitiel

lavender and antiseptic, a ste

ess a medical necessity and more a power play. A reminder tha

ing at the garden outside. I had stopped cry

oor o

and blissfully oblivious to the fact that she was working for

t over some paperwork. He wants to ensure your treatment is full

t was the trap he had thr

mit me indefinitely. He could drug me into a st

was

to sell the act. "I just want to feel safe again,

ed fragility. I scrolled through the document.

I said, looking up at her w

ed to the side table to

trembling ceased. I minimized

server days ago, cunningly disguised under a

r of assets to an offshore account in exchange for my s

. The screen show

gning this t

he said. "He's waiting for your sign

me. "Tell him I love h

tapped the screen, sending

ter, the ta

usso: V

a single word. He thought he was signing a committal fo

said. "I think I'm r

o the penthouse this afternoon

the small garden patch where my mother used to volunteer. I dug m

estate, I felt a strange calm. I too

oated from

Dante was sitting by the pool, a drink in his hand. And lying on the

t me over he

d, not bothering to get up. "I

here?" My vo

said, stretching like a cat. "Dante offe

over to me. She was we

zed it im

re shawl. The one she had

blurred at

ot yours,

hrugged, feigning innocence. "It had

ght, tinkling sound. The

na, pour Sofia a drink. W

I looked

tiful wife," Dante said, his eyes

t of her to prove his loyalty to the Capo, to

steady. I poured the vodka. I walke

, sweetie,

in the guest win

in the guest wing. You will be moving to the staff quarte

rom my own bedroom. F

ter in the pool. I

tood,"

away. I didn't go to

hidden safe behind the books.

hat when I left this house,