l You Da

rved only for ceremonies, negotiations, or power plays

al wine glass she had no intention of sipping. Across from her sat Dante Romano, as compose

ilence was his greatest weapon. He

is glass, "To pe

cted, lifting his own glas

etting her gaze linger on hi

Alessia swallowed the urge to ask if

mentions of a new distribution line along the Hudson. Alessia said nothing, She didn

tudy, undoubtedly to discuss whatever deal had dragged th

the mansion untouched by blood, lies, or the stink of gunpowder. Paintings lined the walls, some unfi

ached

on

stopped

cloth, Her mother stood behind her, arms folded

s not for you,"

ven know w

u never

, "Why? What are you a

darkened,

air was already thick with cigar smoke, brandy, and authority. A

out Luca," Dante sa

id-pour, "You're diggin

d too cleanly,

glass, "Accidents happe

t your daughter knows s

ange, But something in the roo

where y

't lik

in the wron

, two kings in a game nei

g. There were too many holes in their stories, Her entire life had

the gallery, ste

going until she found herself

her father, his consigliere,

oke break, then picked the lock. She had learned from watching,

particular caught her eye, dated footage from nearly se

t of he

he pre

aw stopped

't an a

n't swerved, It hadn'

the driver's window just se

or a moment, was a younger version of he

ne sm

looked a lot

pered, "That's

ammed open

but it was

and grabbe

owled, "is how people

rk room, the flickering monitor cas

e you known?"

plied, voice tigh

to the screen, jaw

her, really look

on, The betra

r murdered

stood her ground

u were

emember th

yet your father's keep

don

pulled out a phone, "You just

"You're not go

going to hurt your father, And

ould I

d her th

ity footage, The

n sent to every cap

blood turn

d a war," s

her a cr

said, "I end