her from Ricci, and now Ricci sought vengeance through me. My existence had consistently been dictated by others fi

ood. He appeared unnervingly composed for someone who had just f

Dante's calm demeanor. His jaw was set, his po

gue. He had spent his life dodging Ricci's vengeance, and now that

. "If you were aware that Ricci would com

dark eyes unreadable. "Because it

ldn't have cha

tated matter-of-factly. "That

within me anger, frustration, and somet

ou did me a favor by taking me. But if Ricci had gotten to

e closed the space between us, his hand graspi

ured, his breath warm against my skin. "He wouldn't have spared a

uppressed it. I glared back at h

throat, his grip light yet

ercy? That's what he call

, a sharp knock reverb

or open. A tall, muscular man with a scar ac

ve an

d me to face the newcome

d. "Ricci isn't

re shifted d

ching for his weapon. Dante's expression

. "What do you

returning his focus to Dante. "There's another pl

stoic, but I could see the

, the man pulled a photo from his

ped closer, my breath hitchi

. A menac

wo

a joke," Luca mutter

t tightly. "So, she's back," he said,

sity and fear twining

icture as if it held

oke. "Her name i

nt chills d

d," Luca added. "But it

"What do

into a grim smirk.

fr

i

oed ominousl

eptionally beautiful in a dangerous way: high cheekbones and

my stomach churned.

he first time, I sensed something danger

nfessed. "A l

ng enough for her

ath qu

ires more than just my death, Luca

h twisted

ing Ricci?

ied. "She informed Ricci about Isla. If she's invol

was no real amusement in his eye

"You find th

ession inscrutable. "No, lit

trembling with rage. "I am

d, an eyebrow rai

reply, the li

lew to his gu

entire estate was p

silent for h

h

O

night, shaking the walls and sen

colliding with the desk from the force. Dante gras

. "They've

tightened.

g, my ears still ringing from the explosion

ear rising in my thr

, his grip fi

his gun from his hols

*

ate. My ears rang with the impact, and my body jolted as t

dy springing into action.

thout a hint of surprise, only the composed

before another BOOM reverberated outside, f

nte's men shouted from the hallw

abruptly c

c tightening my throat. My instincts screa

k, whispering against my ea

quickened

the faint light, dark and fie

he va

seamless, gun drawn, disappearing

trained. "If anything approaches, s

e too dissolved into the dar

, breath shaky. My fingers press

not sa

h them

her app

a De

s chief accomplice. The orch

the woman Dante once cared for was now here to an

Purp

ng ne

desk's edge, h

of foo

ano

ere no

my mind whirled. If they found me, I would be defen

fell upon the

andle. It slid open quietly, revealing th

ays kept

ing as its weight s

footstep

d my

h

r creak

ously stepping inside. My fingers curled

n chandelier casting just en

wo

eath

le

hair, sharp facial structure, dark malice swirling in her eyes

uded c

sem

was merely an a

ting smile spreading across

t, tightening my

now, I anticipated more from you," she remarked. "The girl Dante Valenci

rned with i

ing the gun readied. "You

d. "I came to retrieve

ch she spoke sent

st here to el

here to

ed mysel

use Ricci always gets what he desires, darling. An

mach k

before Ricci coul

Ricci anti

efore fixing her gaze back on me.

rd. "What were

d. "Perhaps more s

tightening on the gu

sharp. "Oh, I f

ut warning,

e she knocked the gun from my hands,

she was quicker more agi

back before thrusting me against the desk. My cheek pres

he whispered. "Dante isn't th

but she only tightened her h

you?" she hissed. "Tha

h. "I don't think

ng sound. "Then let me sh

r, her voice dri

ep you safe. He took you bec

eath

d around

mind racing as I tried

o

uldn't

had shielded me. He made it clear

t.

d

d me because Ricc

ly, as if sensing th

d, "you genuinely believed

k. Breathless and shaken, I spun to fa

d. "Ask him about

isted. "What

ll." She began to step toward the door. "Dant

arkled in t

e Ricci made him an

mmed into me

another gunshot echo

nned. "Tha

hadows, leaving me alone, mi

had ta

no

if he had ever truly