Layla“Mommy, I’m scared,” Eli whispered, his voice ragged in the dimness of the warehouse. My hand still wrapped around his as we crept through the shadows around the perimeter of the open room.A few hundred feet away, the door to the warehouse creaked open. I crouched lower, praying the shadows w
AldoThe silence of my office was suffocating, broken only by the soft hum of the desk lamp and the rhythmic pacing of my polished shoes on the floor. Layla perched in the chair beside my desk, her arms wrapped around herself.Like she was holding herself together. Or perhaps shielding herself again
“This is my home,” she spat, and suddenly she was on her feet. Looming over my desk. “My life. And you want to just rip that all away?”“It’s the safest option.” My voice sounded so cold, so emotionless and lifeless. The Don’s voice, not mine. “You have to think of what’s best for Eli—”“What’s best
LaylaI stared at Aldo from across his desk. Anger coursed through me in a hot, heady wave, making my heart beat too fast, my hands shake with adrenaline.We both breathed too heavily.All the passion that burned me from the inside out reflected in his own sparking eyes, the tight set of his jaw, th
My throat tightened, and I crossed the room to stand by his side. I crouched down beside him so I could meet his eyes. “No, baby. We’re not going anywhere right now?”He studied my face, and then his gaze shifted past me. To Aldo. “Promise me?”So it was my turn to face Aldo. It wasn’t me Eli was as
Layla“Is that a threat?” I peeled the phone from my cheek to switch it to speaker. Set it atop Aldo’s desk so both he and Ethan could hear it. I knew I didn’t need to tell either one to be quiet.“Not at all,” said the speaker, and I thought I could just track the faintest traces of some kind of ac
“Come with me,” the man said, gesturing for us to follow.Aldo tensed, his hand hovering near where I knew he hid a weapon, but I brushed my fingers along the crook of his elbow. “C’mon, Aldo.”He let his arm drop, and together, we followed the sharp-eyed man into the house.I tried not to stare. I
LaylaThe weight of the revelation—of the truth—hung over me like a heavy blanket. I’d never questioned why I’d never met my mother’s parents, her family. She’d claimed to be estranged, and I’d been ten when she died.My father’s mother, my Nonna, had become my everything.And I’d never questioned i
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