Aria slipped the phone into her pocket with trembling fingers, the photo of her mother burning into her mind like a brand. The woman who had disappeared years ago — the one whose secrets had shaped her entire painful journey — was alive. And apparently working with the very people trying to destroy everything Aria and Dante had built.
She forced herself to breathe as Dante finished securing the scene and coordinating medical help for Sofia. His powerful frame moved with efficient command, but when he turned to her, his gray eyes softened with concern. “You’re pale, my love. Talk to me. What’s going on?”
Aria stepped into his arms, burying her face in his chest to hide her expression. His familiar scent of dark cologne and power wrapped around her like a shield. “It’s just… everything. So
