Morett

etched between us wa

refully constructed mask slipping. But then she recov

age was over a long time ago, Dante. You were always gone. Sic

where," I said, my tone de

in a poor imitation of dominance. He looked l

p. "While you were in Sicily dealing with the families

ng his mouth against hers. It was a crude, po

slid down her back. I witnessed her melt into him, he

remained carved from stone. In my world, emotion is a w

ulian was grinning like a

twice the man you are. And soon, I'll be the U

flatly, testing the

going to legitimize everything. No more violence. No more bodies. We're goi

n't secure a convenience store

ice dropping an octave. "You admit

y. "I own the casinos. I own the shipping lines. I tricked you into signin

She had brought me soup and papers, claiming they were

she was

ust to steal fr

s your doll for five years, Dante. 'Stand here, Elena.' 'Wear this, Elena.

codes to your bank accou

u're just sore because you lost. Now, get out of

They took a step forward, hand

y, I am still the owner. Nothing changes without

nto the table, the sound cracking like a gunshot

sfer of Authority and Assets. It would strip me o

entered the room silently through the back doors. They lined up

," I said to Elena, clo

" she corrected. "They need

men. Warriors. They had sca

d?" I asked them, my g

ping from every syllable. "They stand wi