ella

a mottled, ugly plum, her mouth still working soundlessly like a dying fish.

reating the mundane gesture with far more importance than the people sitting before me. Then, I turn

tion settling back over them. They thought this was merely a woman's hysterical tantrum. They thought I would freeze in the cold reality of havi

rivate suite clicked shut behind m

ds. "What have you done? When Mr. Angelo becomes a Made Man... when he takes his seat

ward my vanity. "I am not leaving to become

rembling. "There is no freedom for a Ma

ingers bypassing the diamonds my own money had bought, and press

the light. It was a tarnished bronze medallion, stamped

her hands flyi

, my thumb tracing the sharp edges of the eagle's wings. "This is a Bloo

o be used to build an empire, and I was forced to use it to scrape a cheating

sie, my voice hardening into a vow. "I am going to D

magnitude of that name, a violent cra

o stood in the threshold, his chest heaving, his handsome face twisted into an ugly, feral mask of rage.

. He looked at me as a subordina

the hatred in his voice vibr

nd loyalty, she threw her arms wide and stepped di

embling shoulder, and firmly pulled her behind me. I lifted my chin, l