hive of wealth, ambition,

f place, a ghost

from his more prosperous days. He had

le, number 217, feeling the ch

little liquid cash he had,

he sa

imson, commanding at

ly tailored, whispering

in Florence, looking smoothe

assessing, swept the ro

rise, quickly rep

him, Leo a silent

em crackled with

ce was honey-laced with venom. "Slumm

tarted, a chorus reflect

id, his voice

n' t reach his eyes. "Mr. Co

over Ethan' s worn

glory days? Or perha

w, carried. The nearby "art

e funds, Izzy.

mental angle," she

rfume, a scent he onc

or you, Ethan. Everything you b

littered w

e. I' ll be pointing the lanter

e and humiliate someone by outbidding them rel

declarati

t, satisfied smile

up his neck. The humili

on turned against him by the