r: Blood in

thunder shattering glass. Elena didn't sc

the second shot even registered. Her back hit the cold marble floor of the music roo

barked, his voic

at's-" s

ached for the gun at his

t noticed before. All she could register was the flickering of chandeliers above them, the col

the corridor

a ga

w clenched.

ut

surprising gentleness. "E

painting. Luciano slammed the panel shut behind them and keyed

't the dusty, cobwebbed cellar Elena expe

angles of the estate, inside and out. One wall held weapons. T

panic room,"

nemies,"

they just showed up *arm

s someone l

monitors. On one screen, his guards subdued a man in a black

yes narrowing. "This

htly. "I-I don't understa

hat knocks. But they're the kind

t his. "And

r face. "You're the rem

t her like a

e shooting stopped, but t

rms wrapped around herse

belong in a library, reading

d. "So why

han night. "Because you're mine to prote

her back to her room himself

at the edge of his sleeve. His knuckles bruise

ay?" she as

said. "Not in any

aused. "Tomorrow,

ha

. out of the city. Un

t runni

lose. "You thi

You think you can just

alive means being the villain, El

mouth-but not

hair back, lingering on her

rned and w

didn't

f a poem. Threw it out. Cried

the window at 3:00

, drenched in rain, speaking

d see it-the fury, the control

on echoed

f man have I

t bad men with good looks. *The devil doesn't wear hor

ch. But when he did, sh

the feel of his body over hers? Why did she flinch at

ore than the bull

Toro's leader pour

her alive

. "Moretti didn't let

ked. "Then s

under lock now,"

t sneered. "Every king has a

hrough bloo

sin he's willing to

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