his face were a brutal reminder of the price of loyalty-or betrayal, depending on which side you stood. M

act fast, Marco would be another ghost in the system, lost to the underworld of the ma

'd gathered had led her to a small, abandoned warehouse on the city's outskirts-a place where Marco might be h

remains of long-forgotten crates and steel beams scattered about. The warehouse stood in the d

of the car, her boots crunching against the gravel. The air felt thick like a storm was about to break. Ev

distant sound of water dripping and the creak of metal. She pushed open the heavy door, the hinges groaning under the

ng a black leather jacket, his face obscured by a h

e man said, his voice cold, detache

narrowed. "W

m the one who makes sure people li

r the gun at her side. She spun out of the way, pulling her own gun fro

n trained on him. "You're too late

bang echoed through the warehouse. The man staggered back, a look of confusion an

g to locate the source of the shot.

Mor

on her, a cold smile playing at the corners of his mouth. Hi

lief flooding her system. "Wha

ou the same thing, Monroe. But I'm starting to think I

g one step ahead of everyone, that she hadn't seen this coming. Moretti

her voice steady despite the s

s already gone. But you? You're

she turned to see more men in suits, armed and

Lily demanded, her voice sha

nk you can play in my world, Monroe? You think you can waltz in he

in her chest. "What

want to make sure you understand what happens when you get too c

pped. The walls were closing in, and the door she h

you where he is. But first..." He paused, his smile widening. "Yo

twisted. "Wha

out soon enough. But make no mistake, Monroe-this is a

o this point-every step forward-had led her to this moment. And in that mom

of the warehouse. The sound of breaking glas

caught in her

't change. "He's yours to

th a deafening thud, and the sound

to mov

, a cold realization washed over her: She had just mad

contin