ws an

gainst hers. The distant crack of gunfire still echoed in her ears as shards of glass rained down around them. She c

r hand clutching his slee

gency. He pulled her closer, his body blocking hers like a huma

t. Another shot rang out, narrowly missing them, and a piece of the ch

ce shaky, though she refused to show fear, Fear was a we

nning it, his mind working at lightning speed. "I don't know," he mutte

ered the wall beside them, cau

rceful. He grabbed her by the arm, yanking her

w corridor with surprising agility. His grip tightened on her w

hem both. Dante led her up the staircase, each turn more calculated than the last. His pulse didn't quicken, His eyes stayed sh

revealing a wide, open terrace. The storm had intensified, he

the chaos in her mind. It was as if the sky had chosen

y quiet, save for the

his voice hushed as he stopped ju

ff. Her instincts were screaming, telling her that dang

dded,

und them feeling impossibly still. But then, like a flick

roof, just outside the range of the rooftop'

his waist, instinctively g

o the ground as another bullet sliced thr

r heart pounding in her chest. The rain was pouring harder n

nding concrete fragments flying. Alessia flinched but remained still, he

er voice barely more than a whi

p with focus. "I don't know," h

options. A fight with the shooter was imminent, but if they didn't fi

eeling like it could be their last. But then, a

howling was the only sound, the rain splattering

s entire body tense, coiled like a spring ready to snap. He didn't sp

ear that?

was tight, but s

ped out of the shadows, the soft click of leather boo

The silhouette was tall, dressed in black, his face obscured by t

e knew that stance, That walk, She had se

voice broke

en think

that voice, It was low, calm, and

ly, his hands still hovering over his gun but not pulling it

" Dante said, his voice

ftop lanterns, his face barely visible but enough

th a smirk. "The mistake was yours, Roman

im, but the words stuck in her throat. Fear gripped her, chok

he demanded, "Wh

cold eyes flicking to Dante and then back to her. "You already know, sw

urred, her thoughts spinnin

about?" she whispered, more t

dn't pull his gun. He was studying the man,

er said coldly. "And I'm the one who will

eath caught

d, her voice bare

ur father's war is about to implode, The question is w

in her mind. Every part of her wanted to run, wanted to escape

could react, the man stepped back, his silhouet

e called out just before he vanished compl

after the man who had just revealed himself as Luca's killer. The pie

expression unreadable,

whispered, her voice trembl

sting on his gun as if preparing for another st

e said, his voice low, and dangerous. "And

e sentence, but the

The storm above them mirrored the storm raging in their l

ed, her voice barely

yes sharp, and cold. His words were c

this whole city

focating, but Dante's mind was already racing ahead, planning his next move. Alessia couldn't shak

estions, Too many answ

lingered, who else w

f fear and frustration, "We're not going to win thi

is eyes stayed ahead,

fore allowing Alessia to follow. The storm still howled outside, but inside the old building, ev

pun with questions, none of which had answers. Who was that man? Why kill Luca and t

he stiffness in his shoulders, the way his hand kept brushing against t

e?" she asked, br

, glancing down a hallway. "That ambush

wall. With a quiet hiss, a hidden door opened, revealing a small panic r

she asked, glancing

hem. "One of a dozen in my buildings, Never know w

far too fast. She wrapped her arms around herself and sank into one of the leather chairs. The monitors showed

e asked finally. "The

reath, he said, "I don't know his name, But I've seen him once be

ned, "Higher

en, "Higher than me, H

ched, "That's

ne's bankrolling the wars, Supplying the muscle, Giving the orders. The

tood slowly, rubbing her arms, "Then he's not done," she whispered. "

"And they've just p

the only sound. Alessia looked at the screen showin

, "If he wanted to kill us, he

e said, "To make us

it wo

xpression unreadable, "I don't g

behind his eyes, the flicker of doubt he didn't want to admit. Whoeve

the security feed of the lobby flicker fo

, go

the camera's view, was a glimpse of someone walking away just before the

"I've seen her before,

is eyes, "That's

's part of the Chicago family,

rimly. "She was Luca's conta

who killed him?" Alessia asked,

ttered, "But she was there.

revelation, If Elena was involved, then this was bigg

was when

she whispered. "What if we're j

expression hardening, "

tone safe houses in Midtown Manhattan. He didn't trust any of his usua

but the air was stil

around the seatbelt, Her mind spun with thoughts, Elena's betrayal, the rooftop shoote

y weren

man before," she said sud

He was handling clean-up for a deal gone wron

he want

id, "Maybe he refused to play along,

er had trusted Luca like family, H

k my father

, quietly, "I think your father keeps

A bitter truth, but

ing at her reflection in the antique mirror. She didn't recognize the woma

Her father's wealth, His power, His rules, Now a

soft knock

rned,

ped inside, holding a burner

tightened,

the bed, "That man, the s

One message, No number, Ju

resse

low, distorted, but unmistakable

deeper you go. Your father isn't the man you think he is, And Dante? He'll

the phone, her b

does that mea

're not just in the middle of a wa

knew the truth wasn't at

the blood-soaked roo

just given her