“So that’s what I am?”
He moved forward.
“That’s what they see.”
“And you?”
A pause.
Too long.
“I see someone Icannotafford to lose.” The honesty startled both of us.
That was a mistake. Saying that. Letting it slip but it was true, and truth, once spoken cannot be retracted.
CHAPTER 15
Lucien
The Belladonna cartel escalated tonight.
One of our lower level distributors in Nice was found dead. Clean execution. Message sent. War doesn’t announce itself loudly.It whispers first. I convened the inner circle in the war room, Matteo, Alessia, Viktor.
“She is the obvious target,” Matteo said bluntly.
I didn’t respond immediately.
“She will be moved to the inner wing,” I said instead.
Viktor frowned. “That’s not enough.”
“It will be.”
BecauseIwill be there.
Every door. Every hallway. Every access point. Let them try.
Later, outside her door, I hesitated.
I don’t hesitate. I entered without knocking. She was reading, but she looked up immediately.
“Tell me the truth,” she said.
“Belladonna killed one of ours.”
Her face went pale but steady.
“And?”
“And they want a reaction.”
“And what will you give them?”
I stepped closer.
“An overreaction.”
Her breath caught. Not from fear. From understanding.
