ter

illa, this task weighing so heavi

as a minute away but I had to be patient. Lucky me for using my mo

ow wheeled into an exclusive clinic deep within Vincenzo's

ive shape of his villa rose before us in the darkness,

lood and strength. I stepped out of the car, my sharp eyes scanning

gling with the faint, unmistakable scent of blood. The walls were white,

alette, torn muscles, jagged wounds, and the tell-tal

er blade had been treated at the hospital al

indicating that he was bleeding internally. The d

acked him had m

thinking. This wasn't an accident. Th

ht shone its brassy light onto the oily red of ex

ach stitch carrying me a little bit further

obser

is stare. It was piercing and critical, the kind

stared at this way that disturbe

ment of my hands. I was being extremely careful, I had to prove to

y plans. I was not here accidentally, I was k

o still to bear. I ripped off my gloves and turned to find Vincenzo looki

ly a test, then.

n me. This was it. I'd gone down a road from which there was no

...

rate remained steady, but beneath it, a tension coil

aking through the night like gold, but I barely noticed. M

drew my coat closer around me and put the phone to my e

, the recommendation, Vincenzo's proposition

sign that he was on the move. There was a silent moment between us befor

nt one. Fate made it a lot easier for

and let me know wha

my lips. "Be ready. You will

eneath my skin. It was a strange feeling, one t

...

s still. The sweet, comforting scent of coffee an

hrough the curtains, casting shifting shadows on the wall

oll my shoulders to banish the li

ing fe

urned on the l

k suit unwrinkled, legs crosse

aking a single gesture, an unspoken autho

vy with unspoken meaning. His face held no anger, no particular sh

t into my belly, s