on. Dante had reluctantly left for a business meeting in Atlantic City, Vincent was at his weekly dinner with other crime bosses, and most of the hous

security cameras, and guards who carried automatic weapons beneath their tailored suits. But Sofia had spent weeks observing the security patterns,

re daughter-in-law taking advantage of the home gym Dante had shown her. But instead of turning toward

ks that probably hadn't been read, oil paintings of Sicilian landscapes, and a massive desk that dominated the room like a throne. But Sofia wasn

sophisticated options, running her hands along the walls looking for concealed panels or electronic locks. The FBI had trained her to

elsewhere when she noticed something odd about the vintage map of Sicily hanging behind his desk. The frame was

oor, revealing a hidden saf

if she couldn't crack the safe, photographing its existence would prove that Vincent Romano was hidin

ing a green light, indicating

graph the closed safe as evidence of its existence, or take the enormous risk of opening

ened t

ng manifests for weapons purchased from Eastern European arms dealers, detailed logs of political bribes dating back fifteen years, and-m

convict Vincent Romano of dozens of felonies, but would implicate senators, judges, poli

folder labeled "Lucia C

r with hands that had gone completely numb, knowing that she was about to discover

s-all the carefully constructed documentation the FBI had created to support her false identity. But at the bottom o

itzerland. The real Lucia Castellano, not the fictional FBI c

w his son was enga

through the implications. If Vincent knew she was an imposter, why hadn't he killed her already? W

ng something worse t

ating r

er hair perfectly styled, his expression calm and almost amused. In his right hand he carrie

lculated distances to windows, doors, potential weapons. "I was looking for a

oth know exactly why you're here and what you've been doing for the past thirty minute

en though she knew it was pointless. "I reall

ward his desk while keeping the gun trained on Sofia's center mass. "Which means you're either a re

bluffing? Confess and try to negotiate? Attack and hope three years

n't who sent you or what agency you work for. The real quest

a off guard. "Wh

ince the day you arrived, my dear. Roberto Castellano confirmed that his niece was dead when I called to verify the enga

f her undercover operation, every carefully constructed lie, every moment of growing intim

w," she

ng independently." Vincent settled into his desk chair, gun still pointed at Sofia but his manner relaxed. "What I didn't know

d n

ioral patterns." Vincent opened a desk drawer with his free hand and withdrew a thick manila f

the folder and began reading from what was o

e of Criminal Justice, specialized training in undercover operations, three confirmed kills in the line of duty." Vincent

killing his life's work. She was going to die in this study, probably after being tort

relief. No more lies, no more deception, no more fa

s now?" she

cent replied. "Are you still working for the FBI, or have yo

the question and its implications

gent, I'll have to kill you to protect my family. But if you've genuinely fallen in love with Dante an

-he was offering her a choice. Betray the FBI and truly become

trust me to mak

I see it. You didn't expect to fall in love with Dante, but you have. The question is w

inez forever and become Lucia Castellano permanently. False identity, new life, genuine marriage

she wanted. The chance to stop lying, stop pretending, stop betraying people she'd grown to care about. The chan

f I re

infiltrate my family." Vincent's voice hardened. "You'll disappear completel

ee years of hunting criminals and bringing them to justice. Then she thought about Dante's smile, hi

as watching her with the patience of a pre

o think," Sofi

but kept his hand near it. "Take twenty-four hours. But understand that once you make your choice, there

iss Martinez? Dante doesn't know about your true identity yet. Wh

weak to support her. The evidence she'd photographed could destroy the Romano family, but using it would mean de

never faced an impo

urs to decide which versio