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Only I’d had no idea I’d be inclined to use the items I’d stored inside this way.

Every step was methodical, every breath labored as I thought about what I was prepared to do. Maybe I was overthinking the phone call, overreacting to the events over the course of several days. Or maybe I had a killer’s instinct of survival.

Whatever the case, my father had taught me well.

Only I’d ignored his tutelage for most of my life.

No longer.

Once a mafia princess, always a mafia princess.

I grabbed what I needed, heading back into the kitchen to wait, glancing at the timer every few seconds. By the time it finally went off, I was perfectly calm.

After allowing the brownies to cool, I cut them into perfect rectangles, pulling out two plates. I heaped one with the majority, adding four to a smaller plate.

Exhaling, I glanced toward the kitchen’s entrance, ensuring I was still alone before pulling out everything I needed.

Barely two minutes later, I was satisfied.

With a smile plastered on my face, I headed to the front door, taking my time going outside. The early afternoon was lovely, sun bright in the sky. I even heard a few birds singing, happy about the nearly cloudless day. The men saw me coming and Gio rolled down the driver’s side window, acting as if he was prepared to jump out at a moment’s notice.

“Mrs. Banderas. What’s wrong?”

“No worries, Gio. Everything is fine. I just baked some fresh brownies. They’re my son’s favorite dessert and I thought you guys might like to have one.” I held up the plate, allowing the rich scent of a freshly baked item to waft into the SUV’s cab.

Bronco almost clobbered Gio in his attempt to grab one off the plate.

Gio laughed. “You don’t need to fatten us up. We don’t need any additional padding. I’m on a diet.”

“Oh, come on. One brownie isn’t going to hurt.” I kept my smile as I waited for Gio to stop debating. It didn’t take him long to shove aside his attempt at losing weight.

Within seconds, the four large brownies were consumed.

Now it was only a matter of time.

That I had, along with a way to locate my husband.

Maybe I’d finally learn what the fuck was going on.

CHAPTER23

Alejandro

It had been a long time since I’d felt alive.

Being able to shut down almost every emotion meant that agony induced either mentally or emotionally was rare. Being around Carmella, a part of me had been awakened.

That’s why this moment was more difficult than any I’d had in over two years.

No one had followed me. I’d made certain of that, including by remaining inside my car a couple of blocks away for over fifteen minutes. I knew all the signs of being watched, being chased. I’d even driven around a part of the city for another ten or twenty minutes in hopes of figuring out what I wanted to say as well as how to handle the situation.

I’d perfected the art of eluding any unwanted human, including the police. Even so, what I was doing was risky as fuck. So much so I’d given myself a maximum of fifteen minutes and not a second longer.

Although leaving would be one of the most difficult things I’d be forced to do. I’d thought six months was all that would be necessary, convincing myself I was doing good for the world and upon return, I’d never take another undercover assignment.

How many lies had I endured? How many promises made and broken? As I climbed out, I buttoned my leather jacket, hiding the weapon secured in my pocket. There was no need to frighten anyone. I scanned the street, confident I was alone. I headed across to the small house, taking cautious steps onto the porch.

I’d contemplated coming here more times than I could count, but the risk was too great, the possible loss too significant. But on this day, I felt I had no choice.