TER

and pressed Dante's gun

ut the gun down," he said

narrowed, j

ric. I'm a boss, just like

hrough the room

other mafia group," Alaric said, turning toward me w

tting the sil

isher. She belongs

me over wit

she trying

words hit a nerve. His expression didn't cha

ook my hand. His grip was

he summit," he muttered,

n, standing stiffly beside me, refusing to meet my gaze. I curled

led through the earpiece hidd

et the key f

im. Seduction wasn't an option anymore-no

hissed. "Leave the summit withou

y against the soft fabric of my dress. I stepped closer to Alar

ce?" I stuttered, the wo

yes locked on me, unread

Fisher," he said co

ek marble floor. I fell forward, hands catching o

w breath, he unwrapped my

hin up. His touch wa

want... Car

ed under

o thank you. For sa

n silence, then

And then you'll l

o eager to g

ith him could save my mother's

in was warm, smooth. His grip, steady. He never bro

rhythm to the soft, haunting melody. My dress swayed around my

w Elena glaring at me like dagg

c growled softly in

me closer. So close I could smell the faint

d this... this was the clos

. Powerfully. I t

his pocket for the ke

to my waist, pres

ck and slipped it down his side. My fingers brushed

" I whispered quic

nd paused. But he didn't look su

urned and bolted o

mission," the voice said in my

beep fo

ered. Nothing. T

mmering. What had my life become? Stealing from mafia

Winston parked right outside. I climbed into the car, n

thing important from a man who could ruin me with a wor

choice di

soon as we stepped inside, Sutton rushed d

e said, pulling m

e so much? No o

" Winston said, his voice fla

nd turned to gu

myself," I

ck. Her face fell, sho

," she murmured be

ress and walked

nd me and turned towar

g back at me did

egant gown. The mask in

nd unzipped the dress. As the fabric fell

in somebody's game? To be

off my face, and I'd yanked off the blonde wig, letting my real hair-soft brown strands-fall against

t-strange, intricate patterns that felt oddly fami

ed it into my pocket an

n!" Winston's voice exploded f

tinctively hol

in the way of our plans, you'll be kil

the wall as I leaned closer,

n this world," Sutton replied, her voice s

en rustle-then

, I saw Winston's hand wrapp

he one to tell the b

r eyes wide with pan

collapsed onto a chair, c

had history. The boss can never find out. Y

e said quiet

is daughter the same way." He paused, then added coldly, "Yo

le

key to getting us those documents. Once we have what we need, she's gone. But

n cold. I w

ath hi

His d

ead

was five. His name wasn't Silas. It could

gh

r this time, making sure they heard me comin

d up fast, smoothing her shirt, pastin

n said curtly. He didn't loo

d him out

nd glanced back at Sutton.

gainst my skin like a warning. The world suddenl

hell w

ke it had been hiding in the

unfamiliar-my clothes, my hands, even my reflection

ulled int

y phon

ump

ith a name I hadn't

ar

mach d

calli

h

now what

really Caroline?Or

thudding in my ears. I swallowed the lum

ove a whisper, my fingers