fter (Ari

heir wedding was qu

e king-sized bed she'd barely slept in. The air held the remnants of last night's stor

ayed. Of cou

al Mo

ned, he left befor

rhythm she hated. Last night, for one breathless moment, she almost let herself forget

't trust bea

with blood on their hand

mor. From the window, she could see the sprawling city-cold

she was p

part of h

was here. Not for love. Not

e,* whispered a d

clicked b

rned s

was

nt

d hair. That same unreadable calm

ou," he said. "I have

r arms. "Then

ok. Not cruel. Not co

ot enemi

fed. "Ar

yes-let them think whatever keeps the wolves at bay. Bu

ike that,

questions-and the scent of

ing (Dan

was glass, ste

ines, others corporate sharks who had clawed their way up.

k immediately.

stretch. Let di

d his cufflinks, and

line tied to weapons, intel, and, unofficially, one of the syndicate's b

as Moret

ce-smooth. "No leaks, no press. If the CEO resist

cky-shifted. "Tha

gaze sli

the last person who called m

wallowed.

but it didn't

act

nce

at. "And if the other families-esp

a blade. "Then we remind them who

ith one sentence: "Make it happ

one buzzed. A messag

into offshore protection

e re

em one. Quiet.

ia's

straight out of a villain's castle. Floor-to-ceiling shelves, old

or a story. She was

n on secrets. So

spine looked newer than the others. Not dusty. Slightly off-col

door sw

e," she w

. A private war room. On one screen, her own face stared back-surveillan

er long before the m

she whispered

ether to feel flat

. She spu

nt

ything is what it se

was ice. "You

had a hit out on you six weeks before the wedding deal was e

bli

. kill

ould you have preferre

t answer.

d white. Nothing eve

, Aria," he said. "I was raised to be steel.

ssed. The

ll, traitorous part of h

te's

y thick, political smiles thicker. Dante arrived fashionably

red champag

nt greeted him. "

out warmth. "I'm

the gift box.

de: a black chess king,

s clear. Check

n. "Tell him I

-cool, untouchable, already p

to find Aria waiting in the hall, dr

said. "No riddles. No

or a long time. Th

f men who would've killed you for speaking. Because you wore scars like crow

im, eyes flicke

if love can survive fire. And if not-

in a kiss that was hal