The Beauty And The Don

ight was

ith the cold iron beneath her bare feet. A smoky haze hung in the air, thick with the scent of expensive cigars, sweat, and

the auctioneer croone

supposed

sold to a minor player, a southern don, weak and arrogant. Someone

ad, h

ike scripture spli

ano Ve

me tasted l

ng. The years had carved power into his face, hard jaw, high cheekbones, eyes like onyx

e. The kind

eath snagged

en older. Smaller

was the god

o didn't

t. She forced her eyes to lock onto his. If he remembered her, he didn't show it.

er body

hed. Educated. Six languages. A perfect

laughter, cr

no said

aised a s

s all i

ilent like a th

auctioneer asked, alr

lammed like

Guerra

loor as they shoved her forward. Still barefoot. Still shaking. Still burning with the need to run. Her black slip dr

ai

i

wa

. The Don of New York. Th

d to him like an offering. He didn't reach for her. Di

s. No w

t w

he tu

mbled after him, heart ricocheting in her ch

ed at the curb. Glossy.

oor o

't want

id an

lled her lungs. Cristiano entered beside her. The door clicked shut. No guards. No wea

d between them l

ldn't t

l me?" she ask

dn't

" he said calmly, "you

ty passed in a blur, neon lights and endless night. He leaned

talina Guerra," he murmured

snapped b

emem

k

t he hadn't known she survived, that her ano

ows don'

He hunted gh

using to let him see the fea

ded, voice like ice melting over ston

y we

... here

voice echoed

't know

i

a minor boss. So

i

her for infiltration, seduction, sur

no Vell

lway

*

the sky. A black-suited guard opened her door. She stepped out, still barefoot, still

foll

ns. No words. Just a silent ascent into a

d by steel and glass. Cold luxury. A pen

," Cristi

the city like a painting of fire and ambition. There was a fireplace alrea

d on him.

rink. Amber. Neat. He

se you

not an

y one you'll

d, she crossed her arms. "So

drink in hand. "

r w

of si

he sm

I'm trying

assed like a kn

e call, short, coded. S

her handler. I want t

raveling

ding, still ready to run. But she couldn't outrun him. Coul

wa

call and turn

g to stay he

ot a g

reed. "You'

ulse

ory," she said, voice sharp. "

er. "And now you're

idn't

't b

" she whispered. "You think putting m

gives me time to decid

hat, he wa

s alon

t forg

of a king sized bed, staring at the city li

't know

just a

li

her in the eyes and

game w

a prize? Why not kill her

dn't k

she

uerra didn't just

born f

he was leverage, he'd better pray

eap

ing ti

was inside

er sat in a darkened room,

ne bu

voice rasped o

ndler

id. "Phase on

asn't just meant to infil

ant to bri

the i