e's

Buried men who crossed me, signed off on hits during dinner, walke

ut, I w

oman stomping through my house like she paid rent, yelling in a co

ia

ely, the walking, talking receipt of

gh the gates like it knew it had just delivered a disaster in heels. My men were vis

said behind me, half-

ink. "Of course

e's icing it with

him slowly

gged. "She said if we gave her one

ked. "Wait... who eve

replied, comp

rse sh

heard the stomp-stomp of heels approaching like a war drum. Then the door

e sh

ing like a cape. She pointed at me with the kind of rage you

hissed. "Ho

reached the s

. yet," I said coolly, wal

her hands flailing like she want

ng myself another drink. "From the

ly I thought her lashes would

ou were flailing like

cally nose to chest. "You call thi

er a glass of whiskey like I was hosting a gu

Then back at the drink like

s?" she aske

lve years old

y drink things that don't sme

e going to get a

-

uys had been sloppy. That was rare. The men who attacked us? Definitely not mine. Their a

bruised lip and a sheepish gri

w. "Is Enzo bl

locked herself in

him. "That d

hacke

hacked t

to shoot a gun, but I've been Nevio's daug

long, slow breath. "Tell me she

said it looked emo

skidded back. "That bottle

crate, legs crossed, robe hanging off one shoulder like she

eld the last glass in her hand like it

older than you," I said, star

sharp. "Then maybe you should

w that a five-foot-six wine-thief in

r head. "I wa

e. "This is y

ailed behind her like smoke. "

your father's mess," I said

heavy, full of things neither of us was ready to

're not as tall as you

ly laughed. "You're not

d a brow.

Hair wild. My robe trailing after her like a cape of cha

hef shouted, clearly near tears. "And

apped. "Even soup would

into an apple. "You're causing destru

Your eggs are

to cook?

ed. "You'

is paid up. I'm fe

r room we call The Den. The walls were covered in old m

you've already forgotten how to ru

ornado," I

like

t him. "Co

ted, grinning. "Your jaw

hat twitch might be th

t... he wa

t meek. She wasn't soft. She wasn't some naïve pawn in Nevio's g

her more dangerous than

led up on a stone bench, hugging her knees,

were someone else?"

e time,

she hadn't expected me

lways want

did yo

kery. Peace. Quiet. Crois

. A real one

l could,"

ould I e

on?" she grinned. "You

ays glance. "You'd

you don't pois

ply. Just s

That mouth

mn

serious