ella

t, meeting Hertha Hobbs's calculating stare. The disgust in the Matriarch's eyes had vanished, replaced by a cold, predatory gleam. She had realized I w

ssion softened into a mask of

e smooth like poisoned honey. "But perhaps that fire can be pu

ed by the sudden shift. "

utilize my connections to secure her a proper match. Elzada Velasquez, the wife of the Velasquez Capo,

, who had spent her life scraping by on my father's meager accounting wages,

of that "generous" offer. It wasn't a marriage; it was a death sentence. They needed a disposable girl with no backing to cover up th

ox-stiffened face twisting into a conspiratorial smile. S

ily's Selection Gala coming up. But we can easily handle that. Isabella can simply feign a severe illness on th

o.

ough the parlor

ered. "What did you say,

n. It is a violation of *The Supremacy of Loyalty*." I locked eyes with Bette, letting the ice in my veins bleed into my words. "If the Romero Enforcers discover the lie-and they always do-t

tense of elegance. "You think you're too good for a Capo's son? You're just hoping to flaunt that Sire

p her father's head attached t

ra

The Matriarch rose from her chair, her frail frame vibrating

ing my trembling mother. "Your husband, Arturo, is a disposable pawn, Annabel! He is dirt bene

t understand-" Annabel sobb

"Go back to your pathetic husband in the slums. You have until the end of the week to give me the *correct* answer regardin

focating air, a guillotine po

atriarch's wrath. I didn't say another word. I simply grabbed my mother'

The wind howled, tearing at our thin coats, but the cold was nothing compared to the storm brewing ins