d scent of burnt wood and ash,

as used to be Belladonna Bookshop. The fire had been extinguished, but its destruction was still there-torched shelv

ven wa

new better. Luna had worked every night to review those c

s a m

, and her stomach constricted befor

e De

t caught the early light in glittering, silver stitches. His black hair was military-cl

you long,"

n her, with maddening calm. "I told

ched at her side

thness. "But I let it h

am, to tear that smug expression from his lips, bu

t you want from

hind his pale looking at her in

ung there l

ot my

e guts to face what he owed. You sell books and attempt t

s world for me. He did everything

fail

be cruel-though it cut deep-it was meant to remind. Whatever she'd imagined she was

she panted. "Wha

child's insistence, he went back to his car and opened the doo

opene

An agreement between Enzo Marcelli and Niccolò De Luca, Dante's late father. Terms:

he said, voice

es

sold

e corrected. "Not to be trafficked.

ow it

rave," Dante asserted. "The empire belo

folder shut wit

asserted, defiance cree

rcelli. Whether you want it or not, you are a pawn on the board. I'm offering pro

going crazy. "is that your defi

d. "You don't know what your name does beyond these walls. You'r

the flames. Her shop. Her sanctuary. Burned to the ground. And he'd b

made it o

yal to you,

be loyal," Dante re

ute. This wasn't personal for him. It was business. Strategic. S

eath the ice and authority in his voice, was

ay no?" she

where you are," Dante told her. "And the next

eath c

k for the last time be

you up at midnight," h

m had shut quietly

he folder against her palm. Ash swirled in the air

She just stood there as the world s

new the t

not abo

n of her father was etched in her blood-and now

That

k struck

en on the sweltering June evening. The car was already parked at the curb, a new one this time, but a black one

he nodded, open

othing. Ju

ity lights flickered , while Luna sat silently as they navig

hat she will meet at

hing was

no longe