the Past (

etti estate, the kind of cold storm that mad

s. Her fingers tightened around the burner phone she found tucked in her d

ght. 10 p.m. G

e

m in years. And if

lse sk

ould stay in her roo

he wo

eb was through it-and Leo might ho

minion (Da

uzzed with subdued hostility.

black suit immaculate, hands folded like

ve heard rumors, Moretti. Whispers th

he married me. That ma

she turn

won

fide

said coldly.

, slow a

ves," he said. "But remember

a sealed folder

os. Bank transfers. Dir

ve already won. Don'

Midnight (

jasmine. Aria stepped inside carefully

r over one brow. And eyes that s

ame,"

ost di

You always did have bet

d her arms

e's feeding intel to the Solari. They wa

"I want to protect you.

e the one who left. You vanished.

Leo said, voice rough. "But I'm

pped c

e in the middle of something bigger. And when the k

him. "Don't mak

You just don't w

and Se

to the estate

ollowed or s

d the sitting room, drink in hand, jack

watch

eep either?" she

ine when I'm no

eath c

dn't

ou met

fr

don't know every step you take after dark? Y

red. "You were

protect

need pr

"Because I'm getting real tired of chasing ghosts while

but he grabbed

. "But if you keep running f

in th

ng on the balcony outside Dante's study, wa

was quiet. "I need y

tu

s happ

Dons. Public. Formal." H

arms. "You thin

you're with me. Unless they see you not as a S

ightened in

e silent. He was asking h

something t

ted hi

r tr

dded onc

Gathe

a stage-crystal chandeliers, velvet walls,

ore bl

. Red like danger, l

nte's arm, whispers

sho

ks like

s a S

a Moret

e room, a low-rankin

Smirked at Aria. Whi

act, Dante grabbed t

ng. No t

a knife pressed ligh

ce was velv

my permission," he murmured, "and

releas

ollapsed,

ria, unfazed. "Sh

in fear, but something da

he didn't ju

aimed

that was the only s

e (Dante

e, watching firelight flicker across Aria's f

ched quietl

t ki

tunnels behind the estate. Surveill

jaw ti

d at Ari

aid softly. "She'

s to take c

o," he said. "Bring

e (Aria

t when she found the

ge. Near th

, heart hammering, unt

e

r. Bloody, bre

ss from

as he cleaned his ha

d coldly. "Triggered silent alarms. He

acked. "Leo, te

him from what's coming. Aria, your uncle he's goi

her finally. "

hroat wa

don't

r put you first, Aria. He'll

was a growl. "

u're already pr

n snapped

ned and w

going to do?" Ari

nty-four hours to disappear. After

s m