“Does it matter anymore?” I asked, sliding out a chair. I sat across from her, folded my hands on the wooden tabletop. “Whether or not I have the willpower to kill you?”Her smile faltered, and for a brief moment, something like regret flashed through her eyes. But quickly enough, she reined it in,
AldoI watched from beside the car as my men escorted Aurora from the safe house and down the driveway. She was silent, shoulders cowed. Eyes staring vacant into space. Like she’d lost her will to fight.She looked so small, so unassuming. Like the loss of this war had robbed her of so much more tha
LaylaEerie quiet filled the days and weeks after Aurora’s banishment—like waking up from a dream. For so long, life had been a constant go-go-go of tension, motion, action. Of plans whispered in hushed tones, buzzing phones interrupting dinners, the echo of gunfire in the distance.Of fear and hear
AldoThe months following the war were spent rebuilding the city it had destroyed in so many ways. Physically, so much of it had been tarnished and ruined. Its infrastructure was tentative at best—corruption running rampant through the ranks of the government and the police.And its people were stil
For the first time in a long, long time, the families had found our cooperation.LaylaWhile Aldo concentrated his efforts on bringing the families back under his thumb as a unified whole, I focused on efforts on the community. The hospital welcomed me back with open arms, though I never returned fu
LaylaThe morning of our wedding—our second wedding, that is—dawned crisp and clear. Warm but not hot. Sunny, but not too bright. Dry for a New York day.Perfect. It was the perfect day for a wedding.Late summer sunlight filtered through the trees, casting dappled shadows over the lawns and gardens
I blinked back tears at how much their efforts meant.Then, of course, there was the Marcello family—a massive conglomeration of grinning, cheering, laughing folks who hadn’t been here for the first installment of our celebration of love. They were here now—en force and en masse.Melissa joined them
The sun cast a golden glow over the Marcello estate as I stepped out onto the balcony. The cool morning breeze tangled a wayward strand of hair across my forehead while the morning light kissed my cheeks in warmth. Like a queen surveilling her lands, I gazed down on the sprawling grounds and gardens
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