a's mind. His hold on the steering wheel was iron-tight, his knuckles white from the force of his anger. Beside him, Sop

em. I was traine

ll hang in the air between

past-thinking back to the years he spent searching for her, to the nights he spent wondering if she h

tanding, but all she found was raw betrayal. The man she had once known

n them like a battlefield filled with unseen landmines.

ver plan t

d hard. "I want

r off, his voice like ice.

usation. "Luca, I wasn'

years thinking you were dead. Years hunting the men responsible for taking you. And

ink I wanted to be trained like an assassin? You think I wanted to wake up every day k

ening on the wheel. "How deep does this go?" he

hesi

e snapped. "Ho

that the Order isn't just after

changed

" she said. "They know what you'

es darken

hrough, tense and direct. "Boss, we've got a problem. Multiple Order operative

hout a word, he turned the car sharply,

d. "Where ar

waiting for you,"

omach

y smell of the sea and a hint of decay. The rain had faded to a light

s men were already stationed nearby, waiting for ord

atteo reported. "Six men. Maybe more in the shadows. No

"You said they fear m

car, and Sophia had no

a past she had tried to bury. Luca pushed the heavy metal d

adn't heard in years se

who finally decide

from the darkness, his

s heart

ated lethal intent. "You have three seconds to tell me why

a. Always so direct. Bu

ophia. "Is it,

d nickname, hatred bo

to the Order any

iled. "Do

wo more figures came from

had his gun aimed at Adrian's head, his finger

" He raised his hands in mock surrend

't waver. "Then

iven their final command, Sophia. You eit

ting sile

ed to something dark and deadly. "The only people dying t

breath

en let out a slow, knowing exh

was coming before

e?" Adrian murmured, eyes moving. "She

gun didn't change, but she could feel the weigh

allowe

. "Don't worry. I'll le

dden roar of approaching motorcycl

ntire bo

the intercom. "Boss, we've g

still in place. "I'd love to stay and ch

uld react, he disappea

is voice razor-sharp. "W

ndered. "Luca, we

open, armed m

ophia's wrist, yanking her behind

finally caugh

, there would

d into chaos, one thought echoed in Luca

g to find out e