na

sound of my own footsteps on the marble floor, and hea

eyes, knowing the blood and swe

them, my voice devoid of emotion

he unnatural calm in my demeanor, but the

ng walls of the headquarters and

ly guarded safehouse whe

arlic-scented kitchen, I felt the ten

en I s

block island were ten crates o

had ordered. The sam

in my gut as a dark, re

s a gesture of his power. The batch had been tainted-having bypassed standard health inspections

streaming down my face,

id posture as she wiped her hands on her apron. "It is a sign of

through my numb exterior. "It is control. He does not care i

e traditional, enduring submission of a

ed, avoiding my gaze. "He provid

, so I kissed her cheek and left, the anger ins

e, terrifying question pierced through the numbness: if Dante could we