didn't

. Familiar furniture. Yet every shadow seemed to

t alone-n

imited, came with a condition: surveillance. Cameras tucked in corners. Men in the wal

n, she whisp

s around herself, scanning her apartment like it had become a battlefield. Some

could feel his presen

_____

in the gym when

truck it again and again. Sweat darkened his

ing yourself

stop. "She shoul

bothers you

y. "People who aren't afraid make

n't eliminate th

across his face.

're

a

s defiance lingered in his though

rk ,Elena was asked to come

Polite. C

ts your presence,"

s. That

familiar mansion. They followed the quiet hallways until they opened into a private

ow, sleeves rolled up, jacke

that her b

again?" she asked, arms

. "You're bei

didn't apply f

a smile app

n chose her battles. Food w

't eaten,"

she asked him with

ry." She repli

's a

"Do you always assume y

evenly. "I'm

k slightly. "Then tell m

ure, not her words, but her eyes. F

ired. And trying ver

w tigh

re. I just refuse to let

r silence. Tho

e here," Alessan

destroys peo

me?" she as

ll believe they

. "I do hav

ce lower now. "Because every decis

what about you, Alessandro Morett

me hit harder tha

me, he didn't an

etly. "I believe I ha

't hostile anymore. It was somethin

ly. "Then maybe we

re you are" he said. "In your apartment. On your terms-

push back?

ed. "Then we'll

Good. I'd hate for

g that someone was watching-not Alessandro, but someone else. The

were

t just in Aless