in on her. Each step felt heavier, like a weight pressing down on her chest. Ever

r of time before Moretti or

rossed the wrong people, and now Lily was caught in

picture. If she could find Marco, maybe, just maybe, she could find ou

ling her from her thoughts.

he docks, 2 P

these messages knew more than they were letting on. They

w ships were docked in the distance, their hulls casting long shadows across the concrete. The sun hung lo

narrow alley between two shipping containers. Her eyes flicked from side to side, sear

ng her here knew that she wasn't one to be intimidated. She was no stranger to danger, but thi

with a hood pulled low over his face. His posture was stiff, but there was something in the

gravelly and low. "I was wo

didn't raise it. She needed information,

checking for anyone else. "The better question is: W

" Lily said, her voice steady.

o help you? No, Miss Monroe. I'm here to warn you. There's

not backing down. Not n

ut if you're really determined to find out the truth, then you need to understand something. The game y

n in this world long enough to know that nothing is ever clean. But Marco's disappearance isn't j

nreadable. Then, finally, he spoke. "Fine. I'll te

k down. "I'll t

ocket-a small, folded piece of paper. He held it out to her, but s

p?" she asked,

cold and devoid of warmth. "No. But this might be the last chance y

m his hand, unfolding it carefully. The words written o

y ones after him. Moretti's people are hunting him

ust missing-he was a pawn in a war between two of the most powerfu

d more, but the man was alrea

g a step forward. "You can

ed into the darkness as if h

the paper clutched in h

ing in on Marco, and the clock was ticking. But who could she trust

she could rely

pted by another text message. This one was from an unfam

want to survive, you'll stop chasing ghosts and focus on what matters. I'll gi

threat, but she'd expected nothing less. What she hadn'

er to be part of his world. But she couldn

he two most dangerous men in the city, gnawed at her. Sh

t was a picture-a blurry photo of a man ti

as M

. Or it will be y

ere she had to go next. But the question remained: Could she find Marco befor

un, and Lily was in t

contin