AVALINE

And what I thought would be a brush of lips against lips became his mouth over the shell of my ear. My eyes were too heavy for me to keep them open.

“Marry me or the De Greco will end entirely.” Those are typical threats between crime organizations, but the sureness of his voice made me open my eyes wide.

My body stiffened, and he put distance between us to see my face.

“End?” I whispered.

“You think the De Greco is indestructible your whole life. But that’s because the ...