Layla I’d barely stepped back inside the front doors of the hospital before I was returned to the demanding pace of medical life—hadn’t even made it back to my office. “Incoming! Stab victim, male, mid-thirties!” a nurse called, her voice sharp with urgency. In no time at all, I was gloved and ma
Maybe that’s what made the next words tumble from my lips. “Have we met before?” Ethan’s dark brow furrowed, and his words came out softly. “Why do you ask?” “You just …” I chewed my lower lip, trying to find the right words. “You remind me of someone.” “Do I?” The lines of Ethan’s face smoothed
AldoLayla was late, per usual. I supposed I couldn’t complain, considering I was the one who’d offered her a ride while her car was in the shop. And considering she was late because she was literally saving people’s lives.Still, perching on the hard plastic chairs in the hospital waiting room made
LaylaI perched on the edge of a park bench outside the hospital, phone in hand, fingers hovering over the keyboard. The heavy heat of daytime still weighted the air, though darkness had stolen over the city, ushering in the glow of false illumination.I let my eyes read over Ethan’s message again:
I stared at him. Wordless. Mind reeling.It was so like what Aldo had offered me—a new life, a new name, a way out. So why was it different coming from Ethan?It sounded so simple, so easy. But I knew better. I knew it would never be simple or easy—nothing in my life, nothing involving Aldo or Eli,
AldoI was back in the hospital, though this time, I leaned against the wall of the break room. Arms crossed. Face probably a mask of stoic detachment.I was supposed to be meeting a vendor about the snack machine, but as yet, he’d failed to show. Irritation churned in my veins.The fluorescent ligh
LaylaNormally, the operating room was peace. Focus. Determination.Right now, it felt like chaos. The beeping machines. The overlapping voices barking instructions, calling out numbers. Metal instruments clattering against metal trays.And in the center of all the madness lay Aldo Marcello. Pale, u
AldoI can’t stop loving you. Can’t stop hoping. Layla’s voice drifted through my mind. Like a dream. And it must have been, because the real Layla never would have said something like that to me.Her face blurred in front of my eyes. I hate you for making me love you.Well, that was more like the L
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