ra

our midnight meeting. The silence was heavy, broken only by the sharp click of my h

ngels. Dark hair, eyes that held a glint of cruel amusement, and a mouth that seemed crafted for smirking at other people's misfortune. His reputa

his voice a low purr. He

. men had been killed for less. I forced a polite smile. "Don Moretti,

g. I'm a simple man. I like fast cars, beautiful women, and loy

. "Marco can be... impulsive. I'm sure it wa

, pulling his phone from his pocket and sliding it acros

essed

ty lights twinkling behind them. And they were kissing, but it wasn't the frantic, drunken kiss fr

"I love you," he told her. "Elara... that's just

e, every piece of the life I had built crumbled into dust. It was one thing to see a grainy

e, my hands tremblin

inally managed to whisp

vaporated, replaced by something cold and calculating. Th

him, bewil

ble. Bad for business." He paused, letting the words sink in.

energy portfolio-a division I had built from the ground up, a cutting-edge asset perfect f

ambitious fire, "we will create an untouchable cle

new his flaws, his temper, his greed. But I had built my world arou

voice shaking but

a slow, predatory

tner." He slid another document across the table. It was a bank statement. "Marco has already star

s gaze met mine, holding it captive. "In our world,