tively calm, and charged with invisible threat. Palermo was alway

a, briefed his security teams with new protocols, and quietly slipped armed guards into

ndering into the chapel on the estate grounds. It was an old place, built generations before, all worn pews a

the dust in the sunlight. Her mind cir

just obsession dis

't sure

broke her reve

nd

l like a man unsure

with a respectf

the pew beside h

ardo. He wore scuffed boots and carried the quiet exhaustion of a man who h

thinking," he said

u?" sh

and whichever side you choose, some

away. "Mayb

him carve out hearts and call it mercy. But with you, he brea

htened. "That does

d. "It makes y

m. "You think I'

he'll l

until a guard appeared at the door.

st from her dress. "Than

ry smile. "Some

Leonardo waiting, alone, leaning beside a marble bust of a Roman

k you somethi

d, heart

. or me... would you warn me befo

d. "Is that go

son to believe Matteo is feed

out

ily. The empir

haven't spoken to my fa

mean he won't

test. The line in

"I love my father. But h

rself. Could s

me feel li

gaze dark and unwaverin

choos

stead, he took her hand and plac

t's

fe house," he sai

n case

t answer. He d

table cluttered with surveillance reports. He ran a f

ipping an espresso. "You real

eplied. "She just has to make h

then

s cold. "Then we

com. "Call Russo. Tell him the j

study, staring at a family portrait from decades ago-his father, his mother, a younger version of

entered

aid. "No communications

gave a si

o's men have been spotted near the courthouse. They'

's blood

he

nig

word, Leonardo g

alking the courtyar

eo

to stay he

's wr

ther's i

ve to

u go out that gat

's my f

kno

one. "You wait for my cal

fiercely. "Do

ed her

he wa

ght, Elena realized that this-this-was what

n't pa

was