Sophia I had always loved New York. For all of its grimy flaws there was a living beating heartbeat in it. and it was always that life that had made me love it. New York’s heartbeat was no longer beating. The city was dead. Flat and grey as I looked out the high floor to ceiling windows of Luca’s apartment. I had wanted to go somewhere else but they had all insisted.. Luca’s penthouse as a fortress. And my safety was important. Not that I actually thought I was in danger. Nikolai yes…Dimitri most definitely and yet everyone was worried about me. or maybe they were just worried that I was a flight risk. Maybe they were all worried that I wouldn’t go through with what they wanted me to. That I wouldn’t set my husband, the father of my child up to be murdered. And for what? For so

