of the sleek black car as it pulled up to the private estate in the hills, where the Bravado family was already waiting for them. H

to sit across from t

adjusting the diamond-encrusted cuff of her suit. "And if the

e heck?" He thought, pri

older stares surrounded a long marble table. Valentina walked in like a que

e, drinks poured, and

a crude joke about Luca being Valentin

d into fists. Vale

"Well?" she said smoothly. "Say som

. Of composur

e, Luca did

collected. "I don't mind being under

ed the table. The in

mirked. "He

t Luca kept pace. When it ended, Valentina pulle

. "But don't confuse that for approv

head, and Lu

r left slightly ajar in the villa hallway,

looking, he slip

acts. Luca moved quietly, running his fingers over the desk. Then

a phot

tonio. Smiling. Stand

unger, close

, scribbled in in

heart s

hell did

d at the photo, footsteps echoed behind him. He turned only to find Valenti

osed to find that

and Valentina vanished into the shadows of the night. Her

wanted h

se of what he knew. Or ma

lan. Valentina was silent, laser-focused behind the wheel. Luca sat stiffly besi

you or me?" he

t look at him.

olved with my dead brother, I might be on someone's k

eneath one of her secure buildings. The moment

? You think this world le

adrenaline still crashing throug

ond you stepped into my house. The second y

ng hard. "What hap

away with a new identity, a clean break. But he made a mistake

ust... bur

l?" she snapped. "Pain is the price of survival. Everyon

between them-th

d. "So what now? I stay

. "No, Luca. You don't become one of u

nd them dinged open. One of Valentina's guards stu

afe house," he croaked,

's face w

foun

cko

allen guard. Blood pooled across the marble floor, sticky and dark, soa

n rasped, eyes glass

she slammed the elevator's emergency lock, sealing off

red. This was no longer some dark fairy tal

em alone," he said

alf amused, half irritated. "

steel case embedded in the wall. Inside was a sleek, matte-b

't-" h

she handed him. It felt cold and wrong in hi

om. "We know you're in there, princ

narrowed. "They

ateo?" L

ho slit my cousin's throat and s

wallow

hts flickered o

le

l her breath against his cheek. "Luca, you stay behind

even himself. "Don't you dare te

ared a

explode

pped throu

The guard's body

cess everything, da