te'

reason. New York and Boston are overcrowded; Vegas is all show. Chicago

I have to find out who that someone is before they get to

ight underbosses staring at me and waiti

, but this seems sudden. Your father was killed six months ago. You take over, ma

polished way I don't t

concern what I

e questions. The Moretti girl is nobody. No connections. Unless-" He sm

y the door, tenses. Going soft. The worst t

lk around the table unt

up,"

I did n

nd.

He probably thinks he can take me in

cartilage is satisfying. Blood explodes across his face and he s

You think marrying I

ll away but I

r you or anyone else disrespect my wife again, I wi

s, blood drippin

into his chair. "Anyone else h

kly. Only Santi

"So. This wife of y

ear in her eyes last night. T

y finally. "That is

she is pretty. Go

e I can throw s

locked in my house. I should feel nothing about that. Guilt is a luxury I cannot

be

with secrets my father left behind. I find Isabella in

her to be in the bedroom. Still

ng over her shoulder in waves that catch the afternoon light. She is wearing clothes someone must have brou

rting to notice. She does it when she is conce

finger along the words as she reads. Like she is savoring

uti

h it away. I do not need her to be b

. Unaware and unguarded. S

e ridiculous eyelashes that make her look younger than she is. Her skin is that

imal whispers in t

r my t

t of her hands. Her head snaps toward me a

nd this room and I thought-I can lea

apolog

th so fast her tee

s in the house. Floor to ceiling bookshelves. First editions I will never read. A

you readin

forgot it was there. "Jane Eyre. I

ead back to look at me. I like that. The way I tower over her. Th

ore but-" She stops. Start

ather on my thirtieth birthday. Two years before som

across her f

opp

r w

tch the color drain from her face. "The ceremony i

s to the floor. "I do not want to go shopping. I do

s unfor

me sign the papers

hit the chair. Trapped again. "And I will. Now get yo

shaky but defiant.

again. Tha

dark way only I can appreciate. "Isabella. D

atch her throat move.

hair behind her ear. She flinches but does not move away. Ca

ses slightly. "You are insane.

her over my shoulder

shrieks. "What are y

N

er my shoulder. She weighs next to nothing.

t me down

N

s kicking. Her small fists poun

who wisely look away. Down the main staircase.

ream," she

already s

scream

No one wi

pounds her fists harder against my back. I

one look at Isabella dangling over my should

ready,

oo

bella yells. "I h

kno

ar is idling at the curb. Black SUV with tinted wi

lt. I catch her around the waist and pull her back against my c

me

he car, I

N

r. "You can get in the car willingly. O

er heart hammering against m

to go shopping,

kno

en

ife this afternoon. And my wife w

e. She goes without fighting. Probably

her and Luca get

he can get in the confined space. Her hair is messy from being car

r looked mor

e says again. Qu