Aldo I arrived in the kitchen late the next morning—to ensure Layla had already left for work—to find an unexpected visitor awaiting me with crossed arms. I bit back a groan of dismay at the sight of the tiny Italian woman in my kitchen. “Hello, Mother.” “So good to see you, Vasco.” Melissa Marc
Layla I didn’t have much to pack. In the short few weeks I’d spent at Aldo’s manor, I’d accumulated only a small collection of things—a few items of clothing one of Aldo’s men had retrieved for me from my townhouse, a handful of things I’d purchased for myself because I couldn’t stand the thought
Aldo Morning sunshine streamed through the expansive arched windows of the formal dining room, bathing the sprawling dining table in a warm glow. The scent of fresh-brewed coffee and just-out-of-the-oven pastries wafted through the air from the kitchen. An utterly idyllic scene, truly. And frankly
“Guess those days are over,” I admitted. Our elder brothers, ironically enough, had gone down together—off a winding mountain road and into a river that left nothing but the ruined car behind. “We got more about Marco’s connections to the Moretti family.” Carlo, in spite of his earlier words, did r
Layla The warm, heavy scents of garlic and thyme filled the kitchen as I tossed vegetables on the sizzling skillet. Normally, cooking calmed me—because it was such a safe, domestic contrast to the high-octane pace of hospital life. But my mind was far from settled; I’d stopped seeing the browning z
For Aldo to have attacked Marco, beaten him so badly … No. There was more there. I’d written it off as spite or vengeance or scorn. But Vasco wasn’t like that. Aldo wasn’t like that. My voice came out smooth, a little cold. “Protection from what, Marco? This is my home. My son is here. What’s going
Layla The low hum of the engine filled the empty spaces of the vast luxury car. I’d taken the middle seat, and Eli nestled in beside me. Our hands folded into our laps, bound in zip ties tight enough to cut skin. Though he pressed against my side, Eli didn’t cry, didn’t whimper, didn’t tremble. H
Neither Eli nor I uttered a peep of protest as we slid over the shining hardwood floors to sit behind a carved wooden coffee table. My own hard face reflected back at me from the silent TV—pale, frightened, determined. A woman who’d fight to protect the tiny boy at her side. With the sun still a
AldoThe Marcello estate hadn’t seen a night like this in far too long. Since Layla and I had wed on this same lawn—nearly a year ago now. How had it been so long? How had time passed so quickly?And more importantly: How had we been married for so many months, yet shared so few moments like this on
I was late to Eli Marcello’s party. But I was also on the hunt, and as a cop, one of those things definitely took precedent. Eli’s party would go on for another several hours. And he’d be ten for an entire year after that.But I’d found a clue, and I’d be damned if I wasn’t going to follow it.I was
One week since I’d given the order.One week since I’d unleashed the Marcello family on the streets of New York with orders to take no prisoners.One week since I’d declared war on the Rossetti family.I sat at the head of the long table, trying to force myself to eat.The rest of the table’s occupa
The estate bustled with movement: Marcello men arming themselves, strategizing, talking shit, waving proverbial fists at the enemy, posturing, preparing for war … All the things men did. But still, they awaited my command.I stood at the head of the table in the grand dining room, where a makeshift
Fear.Shit.“Where is he?” I demanded.Carlo jerked his head toward a nearby room. “The doctors are with him now. It was bad, Layla. The explosion took out half the building. We were lucky to get him out alive.”I nudged past him and into the room.Aldo lay on the hospital bed, his face pale, a deep
LaylaAldo had missed another dinner.Or, rather, he was in the process of missing it. I sat at the head of the long dining table, where he’d normally sit; for some reason it felt wrong to leave it vacant. Beside me, Eli pushed food around his plate with his fork, and on his other side, Vanessa lean
EthanI, once again, found myself at the precinct long after the rest of my desk-mates and cohorts had vacated for the night. I mean, the police precinct was never truly empty—it was New York City, so the place was always hopping—but the difference between day shift and night shift was, well. Night
EthanI got to the coffee shop far earlier than was necessary—close to an hour before Vanessa and I had decided to meet—and proceeded to sulk in the corner like a loser, downing coffee.I’d long since stopped smelling the fresh-baked goods layered behind the glass counter, and I was far too nervous
“But I’m funny and charming,” Ethan said, with a smile that was indeed quite charming. “It’s okay. I don’t blame you for not being able to resist.”I groaned, trying very hard not to smile myself. “This is the worst flirting I’ve ever seen.”“It’s not flirting!” Ethan protested, lifting his hands in