SO WHAT IF I AM A WOMAN

ver Naple

lightning carved white scars across the night. A city on fire. A throne under siege. And at t

t hem fluttering against toned legs marked with ink and ash. Her long dark hair wh

w the devil

was

m. Blood dripped from its barrel, trailing down her arm like ruby tears. In her left, she

hroat open, mouth frozen in a silent scream. His suit still

if she were walking a runway instead of a battlefield. Somewhere

ledge and stared d

the city looked li

er. She raised her gun again, but the voice

" the man said. "Even y

idn't

were dead," s

remembered I ow

to a smile, but a smir

in

in black. The rain hadn't touched him. Some

Ro

made her feel anyth

ake she'd ne

der," he said, loo

up his black gloves to the jawlin

she replied. "Still p

head. "And ye

et

d a low, d

ils on a roof made for an

ours

as gold, all m

sipped poison disguised as champagne. Everyone lied

retti did

s displayed tattoos symbols of her rise from blood and betrayal. The snake around her bicep curled

t deals. It was abo

tairs, silencing the room. Conversations

ept

came a voice, s

uth. Thought power could be bought. To

she said withou

dmiring

"Enjoy it wh

. "Is that

close, lips br

ng. It's a

didn't even notice. She walked past him, pressing the cold

ed, he turned. "You know,

a

flared once. Gi

across the ele

didn'

. Removed her glove. Wiped the handle

n, the only thing that ste

k t

t think you'd do it yourself," he said. "Figured you'd

rough," she said.

ime you were bored

tly. "Naples wa

ike he was looking for someo

quite the em

corrected. "Like

d closer.

idn't

she said quietly.

ed for hers the

t him

ol

falling for her

Her breath hitched, just slightly. His touch us

wanting you," he

gripped the bri

umber than I rememb

s from hers now. "Y

etray

l I," h

gh was

t worth the

that

ill on her heels, Celine stood befo

didn't sh

wed a

in the way fire is beaut

fear. But from anger. From the heat still trapped in her body from Kai's touch

uth that sh

he ha

the mirror and unla

oney. A reco

pa

fu

xt name on

with a gold-plated ligh

r had

Naples would