peak the rest

stillness, like a lion after a kill. Emilia sat next to him,

d ki

dn't d

owne

ted and too curious-wasn't run

ted and too curious-wasn't run

-

poured herself a glass o

her and shut the door

uld leave

ned. "Ex

man you stay with. I'm the one you taste and for

," she c

. Drugs, yes. Weapons, sometimes. Men bleed because I tell them to. And the only reason y

ched-but she di

et me in?" s

I watched you paint with pain. I saw you fight to survive while everyone

ove," she said

r hair behind her ear. "It's ob

-

ht, she s

trie

s mouth and the weight of his secrets. She woke tangled in swea

-

he edge of the cliffside garden, dress

ith me,"

whe

eet so

town, then led her underground-stone tu

e end,

silence. Old. Shar

n Salvatore,

ked. "The Do

le was razor-

e's pretty, figlio mio. Sm

n her lower back. "She'

d. "Then let me tell her

braced

"there is no safety.

-

cien glanced at her.

his eye

e the next step, carissima, is w