rated the kitchen, masking the stench of sta

ching Austin slide a steaming

were precise.

in his hands, despite the v

use he had just dragg

ft command, designed to remind me that my body still

ed up

oor flew o

ers dragged

ook like a

lley grime. His lip was split, and his eyes held the

is knees in the cente

stainless steel counter,

nful of risotto to my mouth.

ordered. It sounded like gravel

oodshot eyes seeking out the p

cracking. "Please. It was a mistake. I

bsolute. "You think this is about a broken heart? You think I am disma

linked,

.. i

orward, consul

contract,"

re set to sign tom

rich," Connor stammered. "It

ou killed," my father

ubsection C of the contract-which you didn't even bother to read-transfe

or f

e minorit

ld have gone to federal prison for life, and Apex would have claimed your territory

sed halfway

he man I had

n't ju

incom

ve had to order your execution before noon just to keep the

orror dawning on his pale fac

ized th

rms, my brutal power grab.

d sav

a pathetic gratitude that churned my stom

hispered. "You

n on the plate wit

er of my lips wit

d," I said, my voic

imply don't like the smell o