rom the sight of her and there she lies, snoring softly, her nightdress coverin

, flyi

if I

g tidied." I groan at the thought of her in my sheets, in my bed, in my fucking house, wit

ut more instructions, but he doesn't ask questions

peaceful. There are purple bruises along her cheekbones and cuts on her neck and arms. Breathing slowly, but steadily through he

. I shouldn't have brought her to my estate, but I'd found

There are no colognes attached to her scent, only the soft smell of soap in her hair, mingling w

he wrong message, when her eyes snap open. The light grey of them are glazed

my nose, I straighten, slipping my hands i

She turns her head around my home, confusion

off." This is Aq

saucers as she takes in the villa, the statues, the pool house, the fountains and cul

xon is alive and well. At the hospital, but he has a concussion at best." It had taken a few calls and

ething kindling to fear

ily member, perhaps? I'm sure you understand that you can't stay here, and while I'd muc

r eyes turn shifty." You do not need to wor

sudden need to hear her

w hard that makes me, saying my name like it's a bloody caress. Her eyes flicks from the ground to min

d stern." Would you prefer I took you back to the bridge, Mrs. Hawke? I honestly don't give two shits where you sleep tonight. I've long

athing so close to my face with an uncanny fire in her eyes as she tells me," Do not c

best known for without flinching. The kind that makes men squirm in thei

ir

he's been standing there for. I'm usually more keyed in to my surroundings. This, t

or use and you have a cal

ad in my belly. I nod once, heading inside without giving the woman another

e from my step grandmother? It means something's wrong back at Milan. The woman never calls

the landline, pressing i

was shot on

one and I suck in a deep,

s well be. He's in a coma, and though we have the best doctors tending to h

, I do

I have loved. I have buried my husband and children. I have grieved and I completely understand your aversion to this world we have built. But you cannot ru

to me that way!"I

inded of Priya back in that damned box where all of my emotions hide. And I fail horribly. I grip the edge of the table, cussing at the pa

been booked for tomorrow. Do not let me down. If you do not wish to lead, you know what you must do." The li

my family vulnerable to the brutal politics and power struggle of the world I was born into. A world that learned to fear my very name.

ger a matter of wants

st, half expecting to find her naked in my bed, but as I twist the do

te

Mio--My

o--Fire