L

r you in the living

like a giant, bigger even th

of power than a home. I walked up the steps wi

ears old. Stro

" I snapped, pressing a finger i

called me Al as long as I could remember. "They don'

e two dead men and my fear of Luca. He had tol

st tightening. N

et as I hurried t

l in a deep breathe. I needed patience for this.

Angelo more

, their eyes sharp and angry. My mother sat across fro

han to spill blood wit

s. Adraino, my brother, only thirteen, was at the edge of the

said, his voice

e had commanded me into my own home. I co

urself?" Roberto asked. Hi

What exactly do you

gelo snapped. "You wen

ion, which was exactly the reason I ha

king with anger, spit almost drooling from his lips. "You had

I said. "My father

disgusted. "Do you understand what you've done? What kind of man he i

of man he is," I said, m

ld have spoken if my father was in the room

ething. If we keep waiting, this family will fa

ng us his? You think he'll stop at marriage? He'll

aid before I could stop my

nt. I had made ene

and slapping me hard across the face. Pietro walked in

u think I don't know what you've been planning? Both of you would tear this family apart if it mea

again. His fists clen

oftly. Adraino was watching wide-eyed. His childhood was

"You're making a mistake, Alina. A

. "But it's my

of the room, my legs s

g too. I pushed the door open and sat down behind his desk, tr

e door. I sat up a

's voice was soft

in," I

door gently. She didn't sit down

was beautiful. Stunning even. She looked li

I said.

time, I saw the worry in her eyes. "You don't h

ur best chance. He's the only one strong enough to keep us saf

and. "Do you even know what you're getti

m ready. I saw two dead m

ove you. I love you so much. But you have to be ready for what

gain, my voice bar

ned. "If you do this, you'll hav

odd

f what to say, making me jump. I pulled it out, my

my voice sha

rumbled through the line

art s

marr

call before I

shaking for completely different reas

watching me. "

aid, my vo

yes and sighed.

at the desk, my hea

t wha