Chapter 63

Alessandro

“There’s one more thing. Not urgent. But worth considering… a secondary route we’ve been testing. Higher turnover. Lower packaging cost. Girls. Young ones, and quite easier to move…”

I felt my world shut down at the sound of his words, and even more, the weight of the silence and Isabella’s eyes on me. I didn’t want to look at her. Didn’t want her to see the vulnerability I would show if we made contact. I didn’t want emotions or sentiments stepping in. This is what I longed for all along. What I had waited for, planned toward, and even met with failure over and over. And I wasn’t backing down now, not even for Isabella.

I didn’t care how monstrous it made me appear. All I cared about was what I needed.

The city passed in a smear of white and gold, blurred behind tinted glass on the drive back home. I sat in the backseat, my fingers steepled beneath my mouth.

Matteo glanced in the mirror once, but didn’t mention a word. He knew better