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
I sat alone in my office, staring into the dark depths of the coffee mug in my hand. Layla’s words from the night before still echoed in my mind, reverberating in my skull in a way that unsettled me more than I cared to admit.Had I truly thought that by choosing me, she would fit seamlessly into th
The soft hum of voices and the darkly sweet scent of coffee blended into a comforting warmth as I stepped into the coffee shop. It was late in the afternoon, but the place was still purring with activity—college-aged folks set up with laptops, small groups of friends, a bookworm here and there.It w
So much meaning buried beneath those simple words. Sure, there were the obvious things—under-the-table deals, no more money laundering, no more enforcers handling business in the shadows. No more fighting, no more weapons or guns.But it wasn’t just that.It was Carlo. My mother. My brothers not by
LaylaExhaustion dragged at my limbs as I slipped through the back door of the hospital and into the expansive parking lot.The cool night air carried the faint sounds of the city—a distant siren, the hum of cars on the main road, a perpetual vibration of laughter and shouts and voices. A music all
He spat at the ground and scowled. “Crazy bitch.”One more moment’s hesitation … Then, he turned and ran.I remained in place, muscles still coiled, breathing controlled. Heartbeat steady.Only when I was certain he wasn’t coming back did I turn to the woman, still trembling on the ground behind me.
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