AlessioI make my way over there. They look at me when I reach the door and I can tell straight away they were deep in conversation about something important."Hey, guys." I keep the annoyance I still feel out of my voice."What are you doing back here?" Zakh asks."Better to work.""Trust me, it's not," Malik says."What's happening?""The short story is our dealer is dead." Zakh leans back and steeples his fingers.I release a heavy sigh. "How?""Shot this evening just after I found the intel."My brows knit together. "That's suspicious as fuck." I walk in and take a seat beside Malik. "Who else knew you got the intel about him?""Just me," Malik replies."Then you're being watched." That's the only thing that makes sense."That's exactly what we're thinking too, so something else is definitely going on. And whoever is watching is tracking us from inside here, and our homes. I've been going through my computer looking for spyware, but I can't find anything."I look from Zakh to Mali

Camille"I don't think Alessio would like you in here touching his things," comes a voice I really don't want to hear.I turn around and see Gytha coming through the door. She stops a few paces away with her hands on her hips and a pout marring her model-like features."I'm sure he wouldn't mind." I pray she leaves me alone and goes away. I don't have the strength for her today. I never had it before."I've known him much longer than you have, so I know he doesn't like his things being touched by anyone other than him."She's such a fucking bitch. Why, why is she always around when I'm either at my lowest or I'm contemplating something important? Today I'm both."Gytha, I'm his wife. Just leave me the fuck alone."My tone and choice of words piss her off and she moves closer, like she's going to hit me.She stops in my personal space, and because she's much taller than me, I instantly feel more vulnerable."You think just because he gave you his name it means anything? It means shit,

CamilleI make my way up the wide, sweeping stone steps of The Langham Hotel and the gentle night breeze lifts the ends of my hair.As Leif is so distinguished in the Knights, and generally throughout Boston, I'm not surprised his retirement party is being held at one of the city's finest hotels.It's located right across from Boston Harbor, so the slight salty scent of the sea tickles my nose. A little distraction from my shaky thoughts.I'm not a hundred percent certain about this idea of just turning up and seeing how things go with Alessio, but I'm doing it.This is me trying. This is me fighting for the pirate man who holds my heart.The doormen open the doors for me and I walk in, immersed in the music and people dressed in formal wear. It's almost a déjà vu moment from the fundraiser, but this time I'm by myself, and people notice straight away.The hotel's facilities have been booked out for the event so everyone around me is here because of it. But there is no mixture of what

AlessioI walk into the warehouse and find the back office.Leo and Kill are standing by the large metal door.Leo is nearly as tall as the door and looks like the typical Bratva man with tattoos covering his arms and neck. Kill is tall, too, but is more built and has elbow-length black hair with shaved sides. He reminds me of a Viking warrior, especially with the runes for death, war, protection, and justice tattooed on his neck and arms."We're back here," Leo says, motioning through the door."Is our new friend still functional?" They were still trying to interrogate the guy while I was on my way."He is, and still not talking."No surprise there.They lead me inside, where I find Zakh and Malik standing together with their guns at their sides. Both acknowledge me when I walk in. I do the same then I take in the bald-headed Chinese guy sitting in front of them. He's covered in blood and tattoos from head to toe. He has so many tattoos, I can't tell the blood and ink apart. I also c

Camille"Have more tea, dear. It will help." Ehlga taps the back of my hand.She gives me a warm smile, but the worry in her eyes gives her away.She looks just as worried about Alessio as I am and seems to be doing her best to not just calm me down, but herself too.Across the table between us are the cups of chamomile tea and coffee we've had. Only God knows how much we've drunk between us since before the sun rose.We switched out the tea for coffee about an hour ago.I was already in the kitchen, sitting here at the breakfast table when she came downstairs. I couldn't sleep after Alessio left.I assumed he must have contacted Ehlga at some point because she knew he'd left the house on business before I told her."I think I'll pass, Ehlga."Her shoulders slump. "Then I should make you something to eat. It's breakfast time now.""No, I'm not hungry. I'm just worried." I've never seen Alessio leave the house with a gun.I'd only seen the gun once before, when he pulled it on Richard.