LA

ing. Only a massive amount of alcohol or death could make a person feel

could make me vomit violently. My tongue was glued to the roof of my mouth, and my throat felt as if I had swa

wallowing felt impossible my mouth tasted like vile, dis

l over, screaming that something terrible had happened. I kept my eyes closed, hoping it was a li

hese were not my expensive silk sheets. My fingers clutched the coarse fabric, trying to remember what happened... how I got h

me to

ed with a dark smile I recognized. Could

bered Nikolai smile warm, kind not this

a bed and a chair. Cold, damp, lifeless. My gaze shifted as I heard air esc

ressing against the headboard. My

kol

ared like fireworks in

His eyes were black orbs of hate, not the b

sked, my back pressed

ved at the sides, longer on top. A five o'clock shadow darkened his jawline. The familiar thick ey

said, a wicked smi

ne. That low, husky vo

ring. Apart from the scar and the da

self," he said, placing the box on

his face. "Why introduce y

y. "You don't know

n who broke my heart, left without

illing me. "My name is Nico. Nico M

ble to look away. His

Lila? You look like

ome sort of jok

ss Falcone, it

ould have said that. The bitt

t know," I whispered. "Nikolai

ck, pushing my head against th

ti. How could you not kn

ame was Romano," I said

pping back. I gaspe

re ly

name is Nikolai Ro

eyes narro

ikolai

d sat, staring me down. "I can s

a what's going

ou're playing ignorant.

know who you are

you. I'm Nikolai

... his surname

for patience, Miss Falcone. Forget

falling. "Nikolai said his surname was R

elieve you

ould I

ent. Humanity can make us do

sobbing harder. "What do you

upright, chair skidd

y hands off my brother. Someone must pay for what

know what you m

ap! Stop pl

'm not play

ou fucking killed my brother! Beca

topped. My

I killed your brot

ull the trigger, but you

ou're wrong,

use

ong. He's

d I bury six

s. The day Nikolai disappeared, I

is is a joke, right?" I moved closer on

then jerked his hand

cut your bullshit now,

d, he stepped out and

lai... dead? And why did Nico blam