t to expect from the

Niccol

3:07

- 148 Rue Noir.

ther explanation. Just

creen, willing it to spit out

did

she thought

ould show up impossible to forget

with th

-

ow-profile, a place very few would find it without searching really hard f

reful man in a dark suit, nodding, opening the

d to move

y table had a candle, a secret, and a good

o Moretti in a sleek navy suit that seemed so cust

ailing over her in a manner, which gave goose

this isn

t," he said,

the dres

se if I'm going to feed my enemies in

ebrow. "So I am

ut someone at thi

ned and

s a thir

ine as if it were blood, sat a w

skin. Red lips. A look

said, "this is

le

m the survei

onstriction

"It's a pleasure, really. I

disguising her frazzled stat

id, "the most interestin

was a silen

le. Aria spoke little and listened more

e, Dhalia had made

the sense of a man with a gun; she w

her. He respected her. He

who Aria w

ou know your charming boss once orchestrated a buyout that

aw tightene

assistant know what kin

sted in gossip,"

completely vanished in the last two years. Fact: of those t

t's your

hat Niccolo doesn't do casual. Not with business.

stutter in

"So if he keeps you close, it's not

e table had an ed

ng, "You're here for informa

row. "Then give me so

rom his jeans pocket and placed it

of the Russians are cutt

d. "And you just han

or," he pronounced

To a man like you, t

eaving her untouc

Aria, whispering, "He plays to win. Be

nce more, and Ari

e hell w

sin

hreate

" he corrected.

game, Niccolo. I'm not

"You are the only pi

he room; she needed air,

pped her at the e

about one thi

tur

t do ca

or a good second or two, befo

clicking like gunshots, he

ight, cold and dr

did not

fire in h

er on he

first time sin

Niccolo's world-not

ated move