RI

warpath, an

to conquer, and borders to protect. Yet here I was, burning through r

t just about

t what she

amn good amount of transfer of aggression bleed

aggression t

lding before me. A group of us sat around, discussing the Bratva and Cosa Nostra trade routes. A delicate subject, one req

as o

zu

e start, the type of woman who l

schief, and her every move ha

n more careful. But I let my guard down fo

wn through generations. It was priceless, and the idea of her

ked away, let it

le, and I glanced at it, seeing

y as I could without looking careless. My men might not que

I checked my phone. A text f

ound where

ved into a

na

eared my schedule and ga

ck was a reminder of the time I had spent searching, the countless dead ends I had faced. The city outside

ing of a clock in my mind, c

cked between a laundromat and a coffee shop, I steppe

eat building inside me. I didn't linger outside; I walked s

he smell of cleaning supplies mingled w

glances from both staff and customers alike. They either found

it was

ounter, I scanned the workers

d from our last encounter. None of the possessed a sultry

led in my gut like a stone. She had been so c

ping my tone calm but fir

invited guest at a party, and I could fe

estion her further, another worker-older, with a hardened expression-shot h

tching

st but then quickly blurted out

k in her features. She was older than Azzura. I studied her, looking for a r

she wasn't

with intent of my being here. It was meant to intimidate; t

en, one look at my face would be enough to set them in line. She shuffl

she?" I as

he back of the store as if she could find an escape route written on the walls. Before she could sta

re! I'm

t v

waiting for her. I turned my head sharply, follow

zu

form-moved with an ease that seemed designed to tempt anyone who dared look her way. Her auburn hair spilled over her shoulde

n our e

The casual stride faltered, and the easy sm

could shield her from what was coming next. I held her gaze, watch

t transgressions most likely weighed on the litt

eld my gaze steady. She didn't want me to see

ark amusement

I thought