ke befor

, no slow stretch of comfort. Her eyes snapped open as if summoned by instinct, he

e didn't remembe

silence p

ed even when she knew she was alone. The ceiling above her was unfamiliar, too high, too smooth. The sheet

crashe

ho

e

ndro D

undered beneath her ribs. She swung her legs over the side of the bed a

the dim gray light of dawn. L

y knew what she would find. The curtains slid aside

withou

lat

han

to op

rced. Beyond it lay manicured gardens and iron gates, guards

visible-but

t windows, she

etending to

w tigh

fused

his place something

eath. Whatever Alessandro De Luca believed she was-wea

ock came a

e. Not hesita

n's voice calle

a

the door. Mara stood there dressed in black, her postu

sleep?" M

na replie

't expected anything else. "Get

nked. "Do

es

ed, though she alread

aid. "And before you as

red in Elena's chest.

ust long enough f

e owns," she said finally. "And because men are

mplication. "I'm not so

d quietly. "Yo

essed ca

ck trousers, soft gray blouse, flat shoes. Nothing flashy. N

pace around her. Every turn felt deliberate. Every hallway seemed designed

ere cu

were

ike a problem that h

aightened wit

room was

ne. Men occupied it in clusters-armed, dangerous, utterly at ease. Weapons rested beside plates.

Spanish

oke them al

she s

berate contradiction. He was reading something on a tablet, one elbow resting

awar

ions dulled. Forks paused mid-air. Eyes tracked her

er?" a man

k like trouble,"

ping into her face. She hated the way they spoke abou

ara indicated, several pl

of her. She stared at it

n't give them another rea

fted h

eone scoffed. "She looks

berate silen

o finally

ting clean through the room, "and you'll be ea

was immedia

their gazes. T

trembled-bu

o's eyes

" he

e

uickly, their attention snapping bac

ard Elena without looking dir

urched, but

onal. This wasn't luxury. This was control. Maps lined the walls. Screens displayed

dn't

er di

stone walls, a single table, two

ed for he

stions are answere

together to keep them s

dded.

n't you

nded between th

his expression unreadable. "Becau

caught. "Yo

ro corrected. "Routes. Safe hous

demanded. "Why not hunt

he sai

just...

es

sty stun

. "And if I don't

o, his presence pressing in

ed beneath the silence-fear braided with fa

," Elena said, though

lips curved f

hy

predictable," he re

rsation. "You'll stay here

refuse?"

won

ifting her chin. "Y

thing like genuine inter

dro said soft

. "This house has no

ced bac

outside start bel

oor c

, her heart pounding-but beneath th

so

ge, she would no

learn its

ru

eakne

n the t

de who truly h