na

g windows, throwing splintered shafts of light th

tient work of scooping out Dante

nst my hair, that they were the only beautiful t

hark enclosure. With a single motio

ing flurry-a brief, silvered turbule

ent before the last

, almost immediate, but it was a

swer

was all venom, she angled the phone, catching the light on a collar of diamond

king care of me," she gloated

ht now. You are just a filthy, bloo

the tank, feeling the cold con

ied, the words leaving my mouth with no more inflection than stones

before her mouth

he quiet. His usually s

ss," he said, handing me a

tate was burned have surfaced. They are listed

ent contraction, as if a fist had closed around m

e the former D

displays by rival cartels, leaving me with nothing but th

e dim light. The names of the lo

he warmth had gone entirely from my voice. "Secure fifty

in a heavily fortified, deconsecrated cathedral that had

rted cigars, held a faint, metallic t

wn the center aisle. Each strike of my heels against the flagstones was a hammer blo

nte and Serena holding

y leaned into Dante's shoulder,

ced loudly, her voice pitched to carry, so the surrounding mob bo

d on me, not with anger, but with the detached cu

lena," he warned, his tone like

sed my

y the video o

ed for his pocket, clearly unaw

ned from Serena's face. He

he admitted, a tremor in her voice betraying a sudden fear. "It was just her try

d alive, on the side of his neck. He opened his mouth to speak

phone was a direct, unforgivable

t Serena immediately let out a soft sob

nsion in his shoulders dissolving a

uctioneer stepped up

wait for the first

ed blank check from his jacket

m every lot before the bidding began. The auctioneer bowed, his voice trembling as he invoked the Don's exclusive buyout clause, a rule

t the glossy ca

y mother's diamond bracelet, my father's Don s

three lots," I said, my voice cutting through the silence lik

een of perspiration appeared on his

ied. "The Don's buyout supersedes all cla

nails biting into my palms until

rd the guarded door of the VIP box, whe

a gift for his whore. Tonight