Vitiel

re didn't just sparkle; it dri

lilies and expensive perfume, a floral shr

agic misunderstanding" at the gala-the Sy

's side, a silen

n, wearing a red dress that looked like

, surrounded by sycophants who knew better

d, his hand resting on

t was a clamp, a stee

erling is

t for the raid on the rival family last month. A

oward the

h watery eyes that stripped me

entirely at first. "And the lovely Mrs

" Dante said smoothl

, dismissing my mother's death like a bad weather r

ction

ough overpriced trinkets. The main item was a sapphire

fifty thousand," the

d his paddl

gift. I knew it. He ha

ntered, grinning at Dan

nte said, hi

He leaned in close to Dante, the smel

klace. My wife hates blue. But I do need a companion for the

id to me, h

t. He was asking to borrow m

ed at

the Consigliere to break Sterling'

didn't

ting. He was weighing the value of th

etched. One sec

ence, my hu

tics," Dante said finally,

athe. He hadn't said no. He h

ned a

voice was sharp,

s, gasping for air. I made it to the hallway, m

e grabbed my arm, spinning me around

to claw at his face. "You pi

l. "Sterling is drunk. I was placating him. It's business,

I screamed. "You

of saliva in my mouth

e fr

His eyes went black, the pu

e terrifyingly, unnatural

dn't

g by with a tray of drinks. Da

," he

N

orcing my mouth open.

rong. I choked, coughing, swallowing

own," h

st instantly, as if lead had replaced my blood. The

ngue feeling too thick for

elax," Dante said. His voice

scene, Elena. Y

. I tried to push him away, but my hands

ened. He pus

tor. "Make sure she gets there. Tell him to get the photos we need. If she wan

oors

floor, darkness s

. I needed to get to the water.