lways been go

hat men only ever wanted one thing, and once they got it, they eithe

this was

m another man. She was runn

t escaping him wouldn't be

e way he looked at her like she was something he had already claimed. If he e

ld tak

their

ld never be

spised, a feeling she refused to allow herself to dwell on. She wasn't some helple

t neede

d ensure that Moret

hat would k

arms crossed, her expression a

you're hoping for divine intervention, I don't thi

ep breath, forcin

said simply.

frowned

somewhere he can't f

re talking about. This is Alessandro Moretti. The man probably has mor

an t

n he fin

e, her voice quiet

. Okay. Let's say you do manage to disappe

playing rich men like pawns on a chessboard. It wasn't an empire,

she admitted. "But

hen muttered a curs

she said. "But fine. If you'

blinked.

, you need a solid plan-fake identity, a paper trail that leads nowhere, a p

ow. "You have a cou

not the only one who kee

seeing that test, Valeria

ybe-she could

eally could

eeks

usual noise of travelers, announcements crackling over the

dle of her suitcase. She was dressed simply-jeans, a fitted sweat

would draw

fe waiting on the other side of the country. If al

keep moving, forcing herself t

she f

ft in t

gaze that burned

refully, s

heart

d at the far end of the

shirt unbuttoned at the collar, his sleeves rolled up just enough to reveal the dark ink etc

e look in

Unforg

alread

had alwa

p on her suit

coul

n, pretend she hadn't seen him, prete

e knew

redator. And she w

them, a temporary shie

in seconds,

n front

cl

, but there was not

omewhere

ard, forcing hersel

any of your bus

where, exactly, wer

ling her features into a m

ed into something that

ecause last time I check

inside h

hissed, her voice sharp, furio

ze dar

explain why you were

s pulse

to get ou

o

ep back, but

her wrist, his grip firm

ce dangerously low. "Tell me why you

rt slammed ag

coul

g for work, for a fresh star

ndro wasn'

deep in her g

ready

n sent ice thr

sponse, Alessandro leaned in, his breat

it m

e body we

le hea

gle b

h

e

he crowd, ignoring the sound of his voice, the way her p

was u

it to the train, before she

wrapped aro

tti pulled her back