ep her composure. "Anything," she said, the word leaving h

. He moved to the bar on the far side of the room, pouring himself a glass of dark amber

he said finally, his voice

clenched into fists. "Just tell me w

rk melody. "Brave words. Though I suspect

"Your brother has a habit of making promises he can't keep. Debts

e me about Mateo's faults, save it. I already know he's reckless.

ossed the room, stopping just short of invading her space. H

erage," he

ver

his tone casual, as though he were dis

treets-rumors of a woman as ruthless as any man in the criminal underworld. The Vargas cartel h

to do with me?" Sop

wn her spine. "Marcella is perceptive, but like everyone else, she ha

er eyes. "What ki

her as if appraising her for a role she hadn'

h implication. Sophia stared at him,

k like I've finally settled down. Marcella will see you as a distraction, an opportuni

est. "You want me to pretend to

your brother will walk away from this alive without my protection

e magnitude of what he was asking.

tter were already settled. "He'll be free to make whatever poor decisions he

, to lash out, but none of that would change the reality of her situation. Mat

fuse?" she a

dle threats, Sophia. If you refuse, I'll collect what I'm ow

the unspoken threat in his word

finally, her voice b

id. "A few weeks, maybe longer. It depe

sted herself even less to find another solution. Mateo's face flashed in her mind again,

e word heavy on her

ed, sharp and trium

self. "Luca will take you home tonight. Pack your t

up. "Move in? That was

"We don't do things halfway, Sophia. If you're going to play this role, you'll pla

she nodded, knowing she

ne softening slightly. "T

he room, leaving her alone with her thoughts-and th