sleep. I used to think t

et Luca

eiled threat disguised as a marriage proposal. And while he's gone back to ruling hi

ng my

rol or the Moretti family's psychotic legacy of diplomacy-through-violence. I'm

n he does, it's never warm. There are no attempts to cha

ists. Watche

way guns are quiet

'm qu

I'll acc

s w

an's s

, it was whe

al Rafa's Ducati because it's loud, fast, and half the security is

ally). I've booked a train under a fake name, from Naples to Nice. After that, it's ferri

fear isn't

ca will do i

se. Not wives. Not wars. Not

unlocked doors and inattentive guards - I slip out like

l the way to

cati's

ree

Audi is still here. I

somew

st, sliding along my spine

sp

ger. Just... presence. He's wearing all black, as usual, not a sing

ce to work. "J

you chose the garage i

snap. "Unlike th

. Barely. Then his eyes m

s

n me," I say.

esn't

at a woman, but like a scientist analyzing a da

Your cousin gav

't an

ntly, that

ow and deliberat

the part that chill

ack into the house or locking me in a gild

uld've b

was

est of the night,

oesn't

ne d

k, all with that eerie Moretti stillness - are tenser than usual. Whispers pass between

, sipping espresso like the wo

ppened?"

is expression

to me this morning with interestin

at? You're goin

ask me to p

hat did

her he

t's whe

thin

-

s study where the bastard is and the door is c

n't

the

espo

. "Luca. I s

r swing

here

osts more than my college tuition, sip

busy,"

. "What di

ned up

cryptic

fe. For now. But he'

urns to ic

f discussing the weather. "I offered h

atened hi

choice. Obey.

e. "But he di

lee," he cuts in. "That

re in

alking toward me

"If you run again, Siena, I won't ju

't br

y, "That's not a thr

fying part? I

n't

't sc

st l

the door behind me and s

t Rafa

like

ing. No

al. No messages. I try to call but

ut m

ime. Just like a slow, patient game

the

wondering how the hell I got here. Wondering if my mot

knock on

't an

es in

doorway like a shad

logize," he

expectin

le

ou made your mo

" I counter but there's no poi

d

y, like he's considering how much to reveal. Finally, he says, "Control.

en he

oftly behind him. No rage. No dram

nd that this isn't about

ive this, I'll have to stop playing defense.