s Gust

ce. Time seemed to stop as the moment settled in. I could hear the sound of my heart pound

to shake off the

ace ,but it felt sticky and warm and just then real

ds instinctively reaching for anything to steady myself. I turned to m

an wasn't moving, he was gone, the pool of blood around him spreading rapidly. But Luca was un

led with a mixture of concern a

rembling hands. The blood reminded of my mother's death an

oment again in my head. Luca held my hands i

ars rolling down my eye

shiver down my spi

ss gunman, dread curling in my stomach. If there were mor

Luca said, pul

ith his pace. The house felt empty while my mind raced with questions. "Who is that man? Could Kitana

to it. "And why for the second time in 48 hours did I f

oom was filled with books arranged in order and a massive desk at the center. Luca walked

is voice hard as he h

giving me thi

Gustaw and no matter how much you want to deny it, you have the mafia blood runnin

I agreed with him. I can't change the fact that I'm

very thought of it made me sick but now I had no choice. And the look in Luca's eyes told me there w

ky breath but the weight of everything was starting to weigh me down. "What kind of life is this! One momen

ssion still unreadable as

nsion felt like it had eyes watching our every move. I tighten

yes turned red as he s

I saw

ountered earlier, were standing near the front door.

e fast. On my signal, run to the left

outh, then I nodded gently. Fear pulsed through me like a liv

his fingers, One

d of someone who was pro at this. I moved to the le

ith my hands on my ear but I could still hear the echoes of the s

ickly as it started,

etween the two men, lying lifeless on the floor. His

ispered, unable to

dead", he

to keep

"Tell me what is going on! Who are these people and w

d continued, "Le

answers. I don't even know who I'm r

u think I don't know that this is your plan! You planne

inging my dad up. "Why will I put my life at ris

m the shadows pointing a gun t

sitate. I raised the gun,

oment. In that instant, something inside me changed. I wasn't just a pawn