TER

sped down the road, headlights slicing throu

napped, eyes blazing. "Are you kidding me, Alaric? Tha

trying to stay lev

lax? Are you hearing yourself? How t

t.Caroline....no,Katheri

ser. "What are we going to do now, huh?

me, jaw tight. "Scully

eyed, the car slowing with a low hum

" I said

d, confuse

nk straight with you going o

er than I meant it.

her. "Alaric... I'm your consiglie

trailed off. My voice had dropped to something c

urse," she whispered. She opened the do

shut, Scully pulle

rough my hair, fingers digging into my scalp

supposed to be

ine. M

rld-let alone get dragged into it. I swore I'd p

nde instead of brown, makeup masking her face, changing her name to Caroli

it wa

less someone told her. Which meant someo

ement. When her hand slid into my pocket, I knew exactly what she was doing

nted her

she giving

pressing my palms to my fa

d. My mentor. Before he died, he made me promise I'd keep his family

oad, completely alone. I couldn't walk away. I didn't want to. I

t

he wanted to be or not.W

was no g

hat was going on, w

it to stop. I rushed into the mansion panic clawing at my chest like a wild animal as myy eyes darted across the house,

lled out, bre

up in a tight bun, but loose strands had already started sli

ked, the words tumb

d confuse

?" My voice cracked a little. I

y in her hands. "No, sir. I...

rn

one all day, and I hadn't noti

lure pressing on my chest. I'd promised to protect her. It was the one thing

was fa

nd pulled out my phone, fingers

second that passed made i

voice was s

ng to keep my voice stead

I just... took a wal

ld not tell me about the summit,

ng enough to make

aid again, more

too quickly. "Is there

ze I was holding. "No, Katherine," I whispered, and

elt tight, my heart still racing. She was all Silas left behind. And I

the intercom and p

ore someone picke

ment Katherine retu

sir."

hen-s

nd "humanized" version of your passage, keeping

-

minut

or the faint hum of the city outside. My eyes stared blankly at the ce

ock pulle

rowled without

voice said, "You asked

skipped.

e stood there, looking like herself-her blonde hair fa

, almost breathless, pul

ng mine. "Are you... drunk, sir?" she a

ey down my throat to pretend I was. It wa

n key, but also something else-a folded piece of paper. Curious, I slip

rmured, shrinking back,

way, swayin

uietly, reaching for the door a

ropped the act and unfol

took is just one of four. One is hidden in Alaric's study. Ge

safe-the one holding secrets powerful enough to shake the entire Mafia world. An

pire, furious when I took over. Now he wanted to wipe out

. But using Katherine like a

y study next door. She was

therine," I muttered, gripping my bedroom door and

nto the s

y eye, I caught her fingers

d at my lips as I f

behind the curtains-a man. Katherine wasn't alone.

rine, hiding under the desk. I