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
I’d told him it seemed unlikely I’d have punching gloves in a real fight.He’d stopped bugging me after that.My aforementioned and overprotective husband stood on the other side of the punching bag, his own knuckles bare. His gaze assessing as I approached.“Let’s see what you remember,” he said.M
For as long as I could remember, the training arena of the Marcello estate had been my place of comfort. A place more home than home itself. Maybe it was the lingering scents of sweat and leather, softening the crisp fall air into almost summer comfort.Maybe it was that, surrounded by an arsenal of
Eli nodded and lifted his fists.We trained for another hour. Basic defensive moves came so easily, we moved quickly on before the lesson was half over. The kid absorbed things like a sponge, his enthusiasm never wavering. Every time I made a correction, adjustment, or suggestion, he accommodated wi
I stepped into the hospital lobby. The bright light and harsh scents of antiseptic stung my senses, and yet, it was like coming home. It’d been months since I’d been here, walked these halls, visited patients. Saved lives.Everything was the same—the fluorescent lights, the human smells lurking bene
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
Layla“Just talk to him,” I insisted, giving Vanessa’s hand another little tug towards the door of Ethan’s clinic room. It’d been three days since the attack, and he was just about recovered at this point. “You’ll see he’s not a bad guy.”After I’d all but written Ethan out of my life, I couldn’t fo
So, I wondered, which of those secrets had made him Rossetti’s target?And how has Rossetti learned them?I turned in my seat to regard Ethan. He met my gaze like he knew I was about to ask something of dire importance and seriousness. “How did he know?”Ethan’s dark eyes blinked against the pain.“
AldoThe call came late at night, shattering the fragile quiet that had settled over the Marcello estate. My phone buzzed on the nightstand, jarring me from a restless sleep. Instantly awake, I reached for the warbling device. Pressed it to my ear. “Marcello.”“There’s been an attack,” came the low