ed mountains and sleeping villages. Inside the old vineyard estate, Casey sat silently, her back propped ag

every word the sca

ed brother. The heirlo

and yet... it exp

the silenc

O

her feet before the splinters hit the ground, gun rais

like the devil rising from

No mask.

les, bruises on his jaw

ice was hoarse.

at him from be

u're carrying my child.

t it inside me," she snappe

. For the first ti

m, blocking his path.

at him. "Move before

ca said,

ice cut betwee

f up, wincing as

im," she said q

Mirella

eas

knew. He always knew

ffer a hand. He just turned and wal

she

of the vineyard, beneath a rusted

most killed a man in Milan b

her arms. "Too

at himself than anyone else. "Why d

have cared," s

ways

cared about the

that baby is the only thing t

held steady. "Then why make me feel

away, jaw ticking. "Because if I looked at

y fr

ce raw. "And I don't know how

n her cheek. "Then

they're coming. My brother. The old

up. "So wha

over her cheek-hesitant, like he was

he whispered

softer still. "A

dn't

believe they'd surviv

paced. Luca stared

Mirella muttered. "You

Luca said. "But even stone shatte

Italian hills, another pair of eyes watc

pered throug

n. I se

ame, cold

he bloodline ends

the vineyard house, watching Casey as she sat on the bench beneath the olive tree. The early sun filtered through the branch

to talk to her wi

stayed

the silence. "What

together. "Why a

u knew her.

eautiful. Kind. And that she had secrets no one ever got close enoug

is

sed in a thin line. "M

Her mouth went dry. "

came to you-Lucia-is one of the last people who helped her vanish. And I didn't

but everything around he

ghter... and still trea

Because I didn't want to believe it. Becau

ce settled b

y whispered,

et her

hate you," she said, tears spilling down. "But

aw cl

couldn't,

bundle of old letters. Faded, crinkled

the house," she said. "They'

first letter with

arest

ans the world tried to silence

d that ruled and d

oose to be

t be afraid of the fire you car

Em

finally fe

't just a

n carrying the

daughter o

lence. Rais

ined to end the bloodline

od alone, looking

a moment before asking, "Y

ook away from

hell are you st

garette with

he murmured. "Before th

n all black crouched near the base of the h

here's a complicatio

Then a

pse you drag back. Kill him.