**Rossi**
The study door clicked shut behind Marco Romano and his useless shadow Vito, leaving the faint scent of his cheap cologne lingering in the air like a reminder of how fragile this alliance truly was.
I stood at the window, watching their car disappear down the long driveway under heavy escort. Marco had looked tired. Weak. Exactly the kind of man who would sell his only daughter to save his crumbling empire. He hadn’t pushed hard about Lorenzo. Smart. He knew better than to demand answers when the answers would come wrapped in body bags.
Kiara had performed adequately,she had kept her mouth shut about the belt, about the basement, about the broken fingers and shattered knees,she had fed her father the lie I wanted, even as hatred burned in her eyes every time she looked at me.
