s thick with silence, the kind that suffoca

cold from the marble floors seeped into her skin, but she refused to show weakness. She had no idea

have to wait lo

inside a man beaten to the point of near unconsciousness, his face a mess of bl

ina st

diating from him as always, but there was something d

His entire focus was on t

justing the cuffs of his bla

itting blood onto the floor

lentina barely saw it....his hand connecting brutally with Ma

hed despi

head back, forcing him to meet his gaze. "You thought I

..I didn't me

e been skimming money from my shipments for months. And yet, y

re body trembling. "Pleas

should have thought about th

nd men like Adrian, men who ruled with fear, who h

seeing the way he enjoyed

hand, one of his men passing it to him

, to Adri

, the barrel of the gun press

a's hear

this," she said before

fell into

ng at her. His dark eyes gleamed with somethin

bambolina," he said smoot

s. "If he repays what he st

nd if I let him live, what does

...

forgive

tepped into dangerous te

for a long moment. Then, without break

nshot rang thr

pooled beneath him, seeping into

reath caught

finished handling an inconvenience. He t

already moving to

ried, the gun still loose in his grip. When he reac

his gaze, but she knew he

rstand now?"

aid n

the cold metal of the gun brushing against her skin.

thundered

e devil," he whispered. "I