te did n

wai

e tension coiled behind every guarded doorway. Men moved with purpose now, no

had made

Luca was deciding how

er hands wrapped around a mug that had long since gone cold.

decision had a

relight. His expression was controlled, but she had learned to read the cracks beneath the

led again

tened. "What

ou

ded heavily

?" she

r n

. "Then they thin

trade," Alessan

hey're

es

ng for hesitation, for fear. She found something e

ive me to th

N

hey kill t

ened. "That blood is a

feet. "You're ly

sharply.

d, undeterred. "But this is the first time cont

osen," h

sked. "Because they will. They'll take anoth

. "I will burn th

ll it cost before you r

g over her. "You think sac

think pretending I'm not al

ot a barga

she corrected.

harder than

once, twice. "You don't under

said. "Fear is their lang

"This is not braver

plied. "Instead of locking me aw

fell sile

dro spoke. "They

eath caugh

ld shipping wareho

he

rrow

d once. "

immediately. "

ard," she countered. "

recove

"Your men already see the c

flashed. "Stay out

. "Others are watching. Measuring ho

ould you like them to

ople for pride," she replied. "An

t her for a

be bait," he

o be a pa

could

es

calm, terrifying

pping. "If I take you there, I lose th

e steadily. "Then

was made with

ed. Snipers positioned. Contingencies layered upon contingencies

n finery, not in weakness. Black trousers.

watched her with an express

you belong,"

did," sh

the tinted windows, lights flickering like distant star

rusted and cavernous, its em

ng out seamlessly. Elena followed, her steps s

tered t

bscured by shadows. One of them held the missing

ugh Elena, quickly

man said. "And y

ice was ice. "R

n replied. "Your weakne

ard before Alessan

s," she said clearly

en la

ou matter?"

ied. "Because you

w their

the man

ting," she said. "You didn't kil

napped to her-sharp

lena continued. "But l

men raise

o could move, El

ro burns every route you touch. Every all

hat followed

r carefully. "You spe

nd I know what he does

t the truth of her words r

the gun

gerous," th

. "So are you. That'

roughly. He stumbled, then wa

essandro said. "You

?" the m

th me," Aless

be

ed back, retreatin

ehouse

inally broke. Elena's hands tremb

ned to her. "Y

ir language,

d me," he

ze. "And you d

dmitted. "

nd

ned, just barely. "Y

a shaky laugh.

t faintly across the sky, Alessa

he balance ton

you," sh

ow

verage," she said softly. "Y

her for a l

l try to destro

Elena replied. "I'm

ro didn'

thin the cartel, whis

everage h

in Alessandro De Luca's emp

oman who sto