been long, tense

Gregorios were committed to undercutting him. But an

iance, boldness, frustrating insistence on standing her po

houghts as he made his way back to his

rself? Why could he not overcome

h Elena, he was violating his own rules and jeopardizing

contemplation by a fa

e harsh,

me

acing for Dante's irritation. His typically calm atti

h a hesitant tone Dante rarely h

hile leaning back in his c

en t

g across Dante's face as though he were s

have been acting to keep her safe. She's now off-lim

resonated through his ranks, he could sense the resis

ther opinion. He forbade the idea of her in harm

them

can bring up any problems w

demeanor. "It's not just idle chatter, Dante. Several of the guys are be

iorated. And what d

eyes. "You have never let someone this near. And I'm

his side, a devoted confidante through thick and narrow. Bu

voice like steel. And I have no need of j

arguing more though, and left the office. Dante sat in calm as the door

-constructed kingdom, a disturbance he had not expected. But he could not bear the t

ater that day, the city blurring by. Though his instincts drove him forward, a nagging

the little community center she regularly helped at. She answer

ted, a genuine warmth smoothing t

herself, then got out of the car

en

ishment then settling into a watchful st

d drop in. After last night, I reasoned perhaps y

ook down on him. You here to lecture me then?

voice. "I'm here not just for you; your reckl

. "then maybe you should worry more about th

bedience compelling him in spite of better judg

r idealism or values. They will utterl

rily back-off. "I won't watch m

hting something he would have ignored. Elena, you belie

o be part of the issue here. greatly in part. Men l

iderably more threatening. She had no concept what it needed to kee

- brazen, relentless

bout what I do," his eyes never leavin

tone softening just a bit. Bu

hich had expected. The walls Dante had painstakingly created felt

he could reply. He cast a gloomy gaze at the tele

NO

g, she

s goin

view as the DiGregorios are retaliati

reluctant acceptance and defiance. She nodded, a l

rove; the unspoken words stayed like a

whirled, the events of the preceding few day

safe construction outside the city. He locked the d

s voice devoid of any opportunity for debate. "My men are

at him with a mix of irritation

with the DiGregorios. Elena, you are not

"I am involved regardless of your inclination. An

rdened and his t

ment is causing people damage. And you

en perhaps you ought to start battling for

, if it ruins everything around

him; a fracture in his wel

stolen more from him than it had ever produced. Bu

turning away from the room, the we

truth reflected in her gaze s

as he closed the door behind him-a

pire to the question he couldn't answer,

hing was going to change a