Estate-Aftermat

gleaming on hedges, yet inside, the house simmered with anxiety. Elena strolled the corrido

, half rebellion. Her eyes were gloomy, scrutinizing each entry

a whispered. "Y

its Elena recognized but wished she hadn't. "Rest... in

arm gently. "True. But trust me, thi

at her, tense. "

n't hesit

rstood, not yet. Families weren't established ove

riefing-Unsp

om. Screens flickered with maps, blac

ariana's suitcase across the table. "

I expected surprises. B

ms; she'd slept five

n choked her. "We protect

ightened on Mariana.

ce here. Elena's voice quivered, but

eritance? And loyalty.

Then I don't want blood money. I des

"Everything here mus

nded over the

olitude-Love

sunlight and antique books, a safe sanctuary within the ca

ents replaying: the gunshots, Luca's des

.. Marian

rayal. Family

r tissue on her own

ckled down

to rep

ant, once Dante's mother's. A symbo

rward. If I fai

wiped her che

Home Encounter-

Italy, appeared unexpectedly, jet-blac

greeted by Esme, Luca, and a

ied quietly, ha

repeated wi

orward. "He s

etfully at Matt

fountain. Moon and sun share

ou know, Matteo began. " Thi

uickened. "What

ut something else-someone wanted

one with ves

Somebody's watching, someone old

d heavily. "So

You play. But yo

Reconciliation - Vi

one in the garden. The estate smelled of jasm

his glove-

t it a moment

our conv

wai

He wants me. H

fingers. "He tes

r head. "No.

amily is born or

is gaze.

through the garden

ility, the

forged

nter Strike-Flam

xploded in

evels burning. Surveillance confir

in the command room, Ele

De Luca properties," Esme repli

. "Show the world: De Luca

d across the map.

"She may be a ghost, bu

didn't

na

ay. To

d. "You'll need p

sta

bring his head here

e st

nod

Ground-F

ts, drenched, mayhem around her.

t the peak o

m the windows. Flames

: one bodyguard hurt,

"Get her records, DN

ter Mariana

lders. "Then we make s

m, dashed past hose streams

ung he

or lay debris, b

llowed

e hall,

swu

od there,

le

es moi

ad. "This shoul

d into

ntered when gunfir

dove

. An automobile

sprinting i

h-Blood on

state, daylig

od in th

ded to a firem

d against the

moved hi

ver, he mur

"No. But if I died, I'd be

sed he

're

kitchen, silence broke

tand - A Siste

l, Mariana

iscover

your fault

. "They wanted to scar

hed her arm

ked up. Hur

somewhere,

ed her che

Contract Later, i

file: Operation

e stood united

azed at

e sun sets o

losed h

Y

er the prob

busine

arding Marian

ryt

open

es exp