0

m hadn't

ind howled through the crevices like an omen. Inside, the fire crack

eal f

h iron fists and poisonous promises-but someon

ore

clutching the photograph. "If this is t

ides. "It makes too much sense. It's why Vittorio hat

ened. "That means I'm

to her, expres

ghtly. "But close enough

-

hung in the a

lose enough to sh

d a cold war for decades. A marriage between them was scandal

w?" she asked, her vo

s jaw clenched. "No. A

k they'll

e you as the crack

er shoulders. "Then we tell them. We

Then, he turned to her wi

ething you n

-

villa-a narrow staircase wound downward, ending in

oss Europe - warehouses, ports, private airstrips - all

tood w

ened. "We just intercepted a tra

ded Alessi

was unmi

tor

e an accident. No more mistakes. If

ed through her

r put a bounty on you. But it'

ocument-a classif

it, heart

lief convoy. Bound for a d

" Lucien said grimly. "And th

stagge

trying to s

"Unless we st

-

contacted. Lucien reached out to a trusted contact in I

st was

next morning and Alessia saw the lin

was this involved,"

d, wrapping a protective arm around Ales

d. "Then I hope you're

-