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"You're the one who wants to revive the drug trade..."

"Bingo."Greg actually sounds impressed when he says this. "I was wondering if the Marchettis would keep you in the dark about it."

"Do you really think they'd let you get away—-"

"Fuck the Marchettis!"Greg stalks towards me, and it takes everything to stand my ground and not move a muscle. "I really had high hopes for you, Penelope. I really believed I could get you to marry me, and that I could take over the Sorrento clan as your husband. But since that's now off the table, I'm thinking you'd make a nice little gift to my new business partners instead..."

Cesare

Terror had bile rising to his throat as Cesare got back into his car and started making calls. His first call was to Ezio; this brother of theirs also lived in New York, and it was to Ezio he entrusted their sister...since there was no knowing what it would take to undo the fucking mess he had caused.

His second call was to Giancarlo, who was in charge of their family's personal security. Cesare would bet his life that his eldest brother still had bodyguards shadowing Penelope's every move even if they were no longer betrothed—-and he was right.

"I'll text you the number of Penelope's head of security." Giancarlo made the offer as soon as he realized what had happened. "Do you need anything else?"

"Prayers." And Cesare was deadly serious. "I need you to pray that I still have a shot at getting her back."

"Dio sia con te, fratello." God be with you, brother.

And finally, his last call was to a number he had blocked almost a month ago.

Please pick up. Per favore, tesoro. Pick up. Please.

But her phone only kept ringing until it went into voice mail.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

He dialed the number from Giancarlo's text, but the tension gripping his chest didn't fucking loosen even as Penelope's bodyguard answered his call on the first ring—-

"Mi dispiace, signore."

And that was because...a part of him had already known he had his punishment coming.

No, Dio, no.

It wasn't just the words from Penelope's bodyguard that made his blood run cold. It was also the noise he heard in the background. The wailing of sirens and law enforcement officers radioing in details of a crime scene. Ambulance doors being thrown open and first responders wheeling out stretchers.

He fucking knew what all of those could mean—-

Please. God. Please.

"Just fucking tell me," Cesare said rawly. "Is she safe? Is my Penelope alive?"

Chapter Fifteen

Penelope

I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCHtime has passed since the sound of gunshots had caused guys in suits to come barging into Greg's room. But by that time, it was too late.

I've already taken a man's life...again.

As for everything that's happened after that...it's all pretty much a blur. I vaguely remember those same guys telling me they'remybodyguards and emergency responders checking my vitals. A local law enforcer or two may also have questioned me. Or maybe it was the press. I'm not really sure.

It's just too hard to concentrate, and I can't even remember how it's been since the police escorted me to a vacant room that's right next to the motel's reception.

Right now, the only thing that's stark clear in my mind is...that.

I took a man's life.