ien

a fragile bird, yet she reeked of smoke, copper, and absolute carnage. It

ut like spilled blood against the pillows. I took her left hand, carefully unwrapping the ruined, crimson-soaked gauze. The stiletto wound ha

, freezing skin, but my blood ran hot. I had expected a weeping collateral bride, a victim to be pitied and protected. Instead, right under the n

the corridor outside, snapping my

ard Marco's room like a wrathful queen. She was flanked by two of our Capos and a handful of her loyal soldiers. She had heard th

red sharply, her voice drippin

avy oak door. It splint

the pristine hallway. Caterina stepped forward, a triump

awled on the sofa, half-naked, his eyes glassy and rolling back from the drugs, slurring incoherent curs

ndeniable ruin of the Moretti heir, expos

the Capos exchanged dark, disgusted

he sleeping girl. She had crippled my brother without firing a single bullet. My desire for her shifted

ella

e suite. The throbbing in my left hand had dul

perate weeping drifted through the thick walls. Caitlin. A cold, sharp thrill of satisfaction coursed through my ve

the corner of t

ent of expensive cologne and rich cigars wrapped around me, a suffocating reminder of his power. He moved with lethal grace

said, his voice a low, dangerous

en eyes burning with the remnants of the

a smile, but a predator's dark approval. He leaned down, planting his lar

sending a shiver down my spine. "But from now on, you hunt under my command

terrifying truth. I had escaped Marco's butcher blo

sting his tailored cuffs. "R

indow. Dawn was hours away, and with it would come Caterina's desperate, venomous wrath. She wou