rtips grazing the cool marble as she explored. The mansion was a study in restraint and power-vaulted ceilings, shadowe

eone who had grown up around wealth but never this kind.

er part searched-for something, for anything-that might tel

she turned a corner into a dim corridor, the air colder here

stop

, casting long shadows over ornate paneling. And there

old herself. Art. Some grotesque antique Nikolai thought impr

vacant. Lips parted, a

eath c

A human's b

reserved.

y. No animal had

as a m

move. She couldn't-not yet. Not un

new. That should have b

ct of it. That this was the kind of house where such a thi

man being and have his head h

rful Don who killed people, it wasn

lse pounding in her

nderst

ti didn't hid

urat

il yet... but she could

shiv

this wing?" an elderly woman snapped at the guards

u okay

on the bloodied head as she rem

that." the woman said gently, casting a sharp glare

room please." Elena yawned, obv

nd the Master's ar

ked around, taking in the sight of her surrounding

woman led her in and be

he confessed... then beheaded him and ordered his head mounted as a warning to anyone who might try the same." Her

ng to grasp the kind of p

e finally replied, her eyes excuding w

s best you figure out and learn more about

s Clara, Nikolai's nanny and the Head of staff

ried to imagine a baldie who treats girls like rags, beheads people and lick their blood off the knives

. Rage.

fucking destroy that

sending the bottles and glasses shattering in shards again

dared speak when Massimo was like this-when the s

beaten cat to approach Massimo. He whispered so

drink with shaking hands, the amber liquid slo

d, almost to himself. "Thinking w

?" he spat, pacing the length of the room like a caged

wardly by the door, unsure

o him, eyes burn

, sir. Under heavy guard. Looks like t

nk in one swallow. "Of course they ar

bove the city that once knelt for his family name. Hi

cleared his throat. "We didn't anticipate the Anto

hink I give a damn about your excuses? This was supp

hed it against the floor, and stared at

y place. I built the foundation he's standing on. And now he's par

of si

pping into something cold. "Let him believe this is a victory

es gleaming l

rike, he won't jus

hen, sharp

lose he