a R

a half-smoked cigar dangling from his fingers. The faint aroma of luxury filled the air-rich leather, aged whiskey, and the faint sweetness of

me, his sharp eyes sizing me up. A smirk tugged at h

ressing the women. "Ladies, this is what happens to a man w

their laughter grat

is tone mocking. "Do you ever dream of being something

d the steel cover from the cart, revealing th

dia's finest," he said, plucking the bottle from

d, his voice dripping with arrogance, "is the reward of my hard work. How mu

again, their amuse

reeking of whiskey. "You can go now, camer

utside the suite, Rico and one of my men stood where the second guard had been

Rico asked,

ps curling into a fain

nutes later-thuds muffled by the thick carpet

re slumped over the couch, their glasses spilled on the tabl

ttered, gesturing for

out swiftly and silently. The room felt co

e prince," I sai

at his face, the world slowly coming into focus. He was upside down, suspended from the balcony of his su

g the only thing keeping him from plunging to hi

" he stammered, his v

the cigarette in my hand. I was seated across from him on

d recognition dawned. "You," h

exhaling a thin

Claudia family will kill you for this!

n no position to make threats, Matteo. In fact, the only thing you sho

I spoke. The fear in his

out to be made. But there's one thing we don't know-the location. Only invite

d together tightly,

arder than it need

hell,"

he ash from my cigar

d as I reached out, pressing the glowi

hrough the night,

ay tough?" I aske

ce, but he said nothing. His silence was i

m inside the suite. "Bo

walked inside. Rico held up a black envelo

. "All the details. Loc

ack toward Matteo. "

led cries growing louder.

e of my men. "

out a knife. Matteo's screams echoed as the rope

question in his eyes.

"Tell her husband has moved on with another woman. And send

k playing on his lips as

small piece in a larger game, but his fall was just the beginning. The Claudia Empire wo