Russ

ress. Armed men in dark suits stood at e

gotten, my face caked in foundation to mask the death pallor underneath. A dull c

swung open, and

ure in the r

is dark hair was swept back, his jaw shadowed with stubble. He moved wit

ho'd promised me fore

ehind my own eyes. His gaze was hard, assessing

chair. "I'm here to honor the

in my throat. "I ju

e you stayin

s." His tone was f

lines carved into my face, or how my hands were trembli

e. "The penthouse," Silas ordered, his eyes

t to steady a wave of dizziness. "Ther

ythm-two shots of espresso, a splash of cold water, no suga

He picked it up and took a slow sip,

He glanced at the plain hot

im every morning. Now the thought o

change,"

used to debate. Which is harde

ghtened. "I

pped closer. "And I argued for the agony of it. That it takes

he real test. Loyalty to the Famiglia. Standing in

and on the marble c

ng," he snarled, his voice low and dangerous.

rayal, all of it locked inside my chest like a coffin. I wanted to scream the truth at him.

and pressed a napkin to my lips. When I pulled it away,

n my fist befor

las," I rasp

-