und, hope, and every breath we tried to take. The house felt colder than usual, tense wit

lly smelled of leather and expensive ink; tonig

d from grief itself. His eyes were rimm

renzo... I'm sorr

d. "Condolences don't resurrect the

d for him to s

said, voice low and controlled. "The Val

t them, yes, but nothing is confir

wound. "Thinking didn't save Adrian. They struck

art t

"Rushing into war wil

replied. His voice didn't rise; it didn't have to. It w

then. Something unreada

" he said quietly. "S

drian was the bond b

bond will ta

The silence was

enzo

ath. "Luciana

ed-not command, but fact. "My son is dead. The Valerios

lt like

I could stop it. "What

rough his expression like a glitch in armor

ach plu

ma

. The smirk that made me

head. "No.

d mine, firm but

ath st

to marry Roman?

answer. That

my throat. "I won't be

won't be a replacement. You'll be the reas

ed in. My pul

ed the door open, and slammed it behind me w

d like gunshots. By the time I reac

oor and presse

tion-pale, furious, b

doesn't cr

n't crack in p

throat

rian, not his ghos

ed like minutes. Then a kno

Let m

tt

look at my face and pushed the rest of the

ut to stab the next perso

mig

et you out of here before you

slipped out. "I do

hav

. "And sadly for you, I a

rewing in my chest,

"Come on, Luci. Let's go somewhere w

ed. "M

nd of my hair. "Luci, you need air. You need a

cked. "You'r

Now get dressed. Something black. So

e ridi

ervice." H

somehow, I fo

-

ceiling. Heat rolled through the air. Bodies moved in unsteady rhythm.

corner. He ordered whiskey; I took shots

ng me over the rim of his

ned. "

e needs a therapist af

obvi

t lo

booth. "I don't wa

u're not facing it alone. Luciana... we

l like

en. Queens ge

a moment, carried th

f the booth. "I'm going to take a le

he probably wouldn't hear

two minutes for

and predator smiles. Their eyes swept ove

e like this," one murmured.

hiding my glar

gh. "Oh! Princess, I'm

ged closer

sheathed at my thigh. "Tou

ise crossing his face. "Yo

at your surgeo

our exchange for playful bante

ert. Ready. A heartbeat

able-cold, tall, and immovable. A ha

xion fading as the figure leaned closer, whispe

d in a gesture of surrender, apolog

because I was unaware

ed him all

tched in my

glance in my di

g, consumed by smoke and flashing lights,

ard, my pul

have been her

n disbelief as t

tly whose h

sed to say

en in