na

ot need

level and smoothed a stray

need ea

sed the waiting photographer, whose expectant smile faltered as we wa

ait was dead. Just like e

hind a false wall in my closet. Their contents had been assembled piecemeal over the last thirty days:

uzzed on t

om an unknown number, but

e encrypted

with a tissue. Dante was pacing in the background, barking orders into his radio, organizing a perimeter swe

ered into the camera, a wicked, gloating smile pulling at he

ded th

sent me into a rage. I would have thrown the phone against

and settled coldness, as p

te device; its hard, angular casing felt unforgiving in my palm. My most loyal Consigliere-the

ed, my voice steady. "Neutral terr

as d

lers of the reinforced pe

d out into the hallway, securing the perim

a large, expens

his deep voice laboring to project

ped the lid open. A pristine, elaborate strawberry c

s terrified. A stray cat set off the motion sensors, but I had

at the

wberries. He des

mildly aller

he was three years old. The man who commanded the most powerful Family

It was no longer my job

opped. His gaze locked onto the three lar

relaxed husband vanished, replaced

te asked, his voice

" I repli

ark eyes narrowed, sweeping over my cal

said, keeping my

, trying to read the utter stilln

taking another step closer until his chest was inches from me. "I swear o

the kitchen at t

e spark of hope ignite in my son's eyes. He want

The spark died instantly, replaced by th

attention to Leo.

ow, demanding growl. "Tell me wh