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  “Nevertheless, it was the Reapers who did the kill.”

  “And I took revenge on that,” Dominic mutters. “They have no leader now. It seems almost pointless to kill them.”

  “Not to me. And you forget, I call the shots in this pack.”

  Dominic’s eyes flash with held back lightning. I’m surprised at his control, given he’s the most hotheaded out of all of us. “Yeah, so I’ve been told multiple times.”

  My head throbs with something. I’ve never been prone to headaches, but today is just one of those days. Oddly, my lupo seems to waver, his strength waning and replaced by something more – something darker. The ache in my skull intensifies. “Dominic, I am in no mood to fight. Will you, or won’t you, use the vrykolakas to properly protect us?”

  He nods. “I will, but on one condition. We put it to a vote, let the whole pack have a say.”

  “Bene.”

  With a mock salute, he turns on his heels and leaves. I hear murmurs of voices at the front, but rather than go and talk to them, I turn back to the debris and my wasted efforts to clean my office. If nothing else, this work will keep me busy.

  Monica

  The redhead called Lucrezia follows me all the way out the door, and to my car. I finally turn to her, annoyed. “I didn’t realize your receptionist job included these extra duties.”

  “It doesn’t,” she says smoothly.

  “Then I guess you’re only doing it for Luciano’s sake? Unless there’s more going on there, of course.” I hate the words out of my mouth, but I can’t hold them back. Bitch is my go-to mode when I’m cornered, and right now it feels like I’ve been blitzed.

  I was meant to go in there with a surprise attack, appeal to Luciano’s family side, and have him hooked by the end of the conversation. He wasn’t supposed to destabilize me. He wasn’t supposed to affect me. And he damn well wasn’t supposed to make me wonder what it would be like to have his hands all over me.

  With effort, I focus back on the redhead. Lucrezia’s green eyes burn, and it must be a trick of the light because the gold seems to overwhelm the green. Similar to what happened with Blondie inside. A hum of energy fills the air, then she blinks and it’s gone. Her smile is tight – she’s a bigger person than me.

  “Think what you will, I owe you no explanation. But since it seems your business in town may take longer than a day, you might want to check in at the local inn.” She points down the street. “It’s not much, but it’s cozy and it’ll be vacant, I guarantee it.”

  The fight leaves me as she walks away, and I begrudgingly whisper a small, “Thank you.”

  Lucrezia stops at the door and turns to me again. It’s hard to read her expression when she says, “See you around.”

  ∞ ♦ ∞

  The inn is on the far side of town, and the old woman in charge gives me a suspicious look when I explain I was referred to her by a local.

  “What brings ya here?”

  “Car broke down,” I lie smoothly. “I’ll be out of your hair as soon as it gets fixed.”

  She doesn’t seem too impressed, but the cash I hand her must be needed because she relents and ends up showing me upstairs. As we walk in the tight corridor, she mutters, “You picked a damned bad time to visit. After the gas explosion, most of the buildings here are in need of repairs. Folks are leavin’, there ain’t no point in sticking around and everyone knows it. Like the town is cursed.”

  Well, that explains that.

  A shiver runs through me as she opens one door and waves me in. The room is tiny, but it has a bathroom and tea kettle, and that’s what matters. I nod at the old lady and once she’s gone, I reach into my worn Gucci handbag and pull out my phone. My hand brushes the bundle of leaves neatly wrapped in a Ziploc bag, and I pull it away like I’ve been bitten.

  I’d only brought them as back-up, and hopefully they won’t be needed. My nonna always told me using nature’s gifts for coercion is the work of true evil, and the last thing I want to do is disappoint her. Well, disappoint her more than I already have. But if I don’t do what I was sent here to, there’s a strong chance I’ll be losing my life in the process. And that, well, it’s not going to happen.

  If it’s between me and everyone else, I’ll always pick me.

  I speed dial Alessandro, and he picks up immediately. “Sì?”

  “I’ve made contact.”

  “Good.” His praise makes me cringe. “Molto bene. Did he bite?”

  I want to say Luciano almost bit me, but I swallow the words instead. “Not yet,” I say, knowing he hates lies. “But he will.”

  “Bene, Monica. You please me. You have one week to bring him home, and you’ll get what I promised you.”

  When I hang up, I try to get over the acidity in my mouth. There is no guilt here. No emotion. Just pure business. I have to keep that in mind.

  And yet for long moments after the call is done, I simply sit on the bed and stare into nothing. I think back to Luciano’s pack – it must be his, there’s no other explanation for their deep connection – and the way they seemed to communicate so effortlessly.

  With Alessandro, it’s all fear and duty. There is no sense of family, of belonging. There’s only our purpose as wolves, as witches, as humans – sì, he definitely doesn’t discriminate when it comes to meeting his needs.

  And really, is that a life? Of servitude, of isolation and abuse?

  Despite whatever happened in this town – because it sure as hell wasn’t a gas explosion – there is a sense of...peace, around. Or maybe I’m wrong. Maybe I’m simply so happy to be out of Alessandro’s reach that I’m seeing fairytales and unicorns everywhere.

  And what if you’re not?

  I could leave. It’s not the first time I thought about it. On the long, long drive here, I realized for the first time I was stepping out of Alessandro’s territory. It was a measure of his trust in me, but it was also a very, very loose leash. I wanted nothing more than to snap it, and run somewhere he could never find me.

  Only, he would. If before he’d had a Mafia familia, the Conti name is now practically an empire. No matter where I run or hide, he will find me. And the punishment... I shudder. It wouldn’t be worth it. Not when I can so easily buy my own way out.

  Just be patient. Focus. No more thoughts of Luciano’s hands.

  Shaking my head, I peel off my clothes and step into the bathroom. The hot water runs out too quickly for my taste, but it’s good enough to wipe off the grime of the drive and shut up my inner ramblings.

  When I step out with just a towel around me, I feel calmer. More centered. I open the window and lean my head against it, taking a moment to close my eyes and inhale deeply. Pine, freshness and the smell of a small town filter through, filling my senses.

  And then... I smell cinnamon. It’s enough to put me on my guard, but a ripple in the air has me spinning around. The apparition in my room leaves me reeling. Long, flowing brown hair, a robe made of flowers and eyes that shine of the sun. She’s not human, but she’s no wolf either.

  I glance around for something to use as a weapon, but have no time to pinpoint anything before she speaks.

  “Welcome to Rockland Creek,” she says in a smooth accent. “I am Ileana.”

  As usual, I cover my surprise with attitude. “Should I care?”

  She smiles and floats a little closer. “You want Lucas, yes?”

  Is she some ex-girlfriend? First Lucrezia, now this one. My eyes narrow on her, and something about her shimmering form and the power emanating from her tells me not to cross a line. “Luciano,” I correct.

  “Yes, yes.” She waves at me impatiently. “You come from his father’s side?”

  “How the hell do you know all this?”

  Ileana smiles. “It is my job to know things, just as it is yours to be a fixer. Tell me... Do you not wish more of your life?”

  Her words echo my earlier thoughts too eerily, enough to stun me. Twice in one day, first with Luciano and now this
one. What the heck is going on in this town?

  Rather than answer, I cross my arms and tilt my chin up. “I’m not answering any more of your questions, so how about you get out of my room?”

  She laughs then, as if I’m an amusing child. My temper snaps and without thinking I lift my hand, touching the pentagram necklace around my neck. Words form on my lips, but they die when Ileana turns the full brightness of those eyes on me.

  “I would not do that if I were you, draga mea.”

  I’m immobilized. The bitch has frozen me without even lifting a finger, and the hum of power I felt before is now fully rattling the room, and me with it. My eyes go wide, then her expression eases into another smile.

  “Now, can we talk civilly without you trying to hex me?”

  I drop my hand to my side and nod, trying to hide the shaking of my fingers. It hadn’t been a hex, per se. Stregheria uses ancient magic, old spells for protection, but the fact she even knew I was about to... Just who is this woman?

  Ileana notices my trembling anyway and gestures to my unopened suitcase. “Get dressed, then we can speak.”

  If nothing else, I’ve been well trained not to go against more powerful people than me. So I dig in for a pair of sweatpants and a tank top, and pull them on fast. Nakedness around others has never bothered me, and it’s not like she’s watching me. More like she’s staring out the window, her expression pensive.

  When I’m done, she turns to me. “You have stregheria blood in you, do you not?”

  I nod. “My nonna – my grandmother. Her side of the family, that’s where it comes from.”

  “Hmm.” Her gaze drops to my necklace. “And you practice magic, but in the form of herbs, and potions?”

  Again, I nod, not daring to explain all the other ways I’ve had to use my gift – curse.

  “La vecchia religione,” Ileana whispers in Italian, and the surprise must show on my face. The old religion is what people call my form of magic, because we still honor the Mother Goddess.

  “Who are you, really?” I ask her finally.

  Ileana steps closer to me, almost near the bed. “No one you should fear, in so long as your intentions are pure.”

  I blanch. There is nothing pure in what I’m here to do. But can she see through me, know the reality of my purpose here?

  “I like you.” Ileana smirks. “Lucas has eluded what he needs for too long. You, my dear, will be perfect.”

  In a flash of flowers, she’s gone before I can correct her. Or explain I’m not Luciano’s mate, or anywhere close to it. Then the twinkle in her eye before she disappeared registers, and I rush to my bag. Only, when I look inside it, my leaves are gone, too.

  “Merda!”

  ∞ ∞ ∞

  ∞ Istinto ∞

  “There is no instinct like that of the heart.”

  -Lord Byron-

  Monica

  “I thought I made it clear you weren’t welcome here.”

  I’d been having breakfast at a little diner still operating on the far side of town, but leave it to Luciano to ruin my mood. I look up from my coffee and arch an eyebrow his way. “I don’t quite recall those being the words, Luciano.”

  He takes a seat in the booth opposite me, his onyx glare never once leaving me. What is it about this hot-blooded male that feels like he’s constantly destabilizing me? I’m used to being a hell of a lot more in control of my hormones than this.

  “The name is Lucas, not Luciano. Not anymore.”

  I sip more of my coffee, then set the cup on the table. “Hmm. Bene, Lucas. An odd choice of name.”

  He places his palms flat on the table. “Let’s cut to the chase, shall we? How much is my father paying you, and how much do I have to increase it by to get you to leave?”

  I lean over the table, knowing the way I’m perched is squeezing my breasts enticingly. Much to my dissatisfaction, Lucas doesn’t even look, instead his gaze stays on mine. “You cannot afford me, pretty boy. I’m here to do a job, and I won’t leave until it’s done.”

  He keeps staring at me, then slowly gets up. His body looks too damned good in a white shirt and dark jeans, all muscled and tense. It’s obvious my stubbornness is annoying to him. That clenched jaw – my fingers itch to trace it, and I grip my empty coffee cup harder.

  Rather than leave, Lucas comes closer to me, and leans over my side of the booth. He’s close, invading my personal space and not giving a damn. The smell of pine, fresh soap and man entices me a little too much.

  Then I look into his eyes, and I swear they’re a few hues darker. It does something to me, that intense stare, like he’s reaching deep inside me and touching parts that have never been stirred by a man before.

  Lucas smirks then, as if knowing exactly how he’s affecting me. “We’ll see about that. You’re not the only one with tricks up your sleeve.”

  He’s gone in the blink of an eye, and only then do I dare exhale. Merda!

  ∞ ♦ ∞

  Alessandro wants results, and the quicker I am about it, the better. Only, for the first time in my assignments, I’m unsure what the hell to do. No one in this dingy little town acts the way they should, and I miss....belonging. Even if I never truly did, it was nice to pretend.

  With nothing else to do, and my body too worked up from Lucas’ closeness, I roam the streets for a while until the damn boots I wear start hurting my feet. As I backtrack to the inn, I pass a bakery that’s seen better days. I almost continue walking, but to my surprise it’s open. And the smells wafting from inside are enough to make my gut churn.

  Without thinking for once, I head straight in, letting my nose rule me. “Be with you in a sec!” Someone calls from the back.

  I take my time looking around, noticing the freshly mopped floor, so at odds with the broken frames on the walls and one of the windows covered in cardboard. What the hell happened in this town, anyway?

  My thoughts are interrupted again. “Hi, sorry about that. How can I–oh.”

  When I whirl around, I’m surprised to find little Miss Cinderella from the auto shop behind the counter. Her hair is in a messy bun, and there’s flour on her cheek. Even her apron is dusted with it. And yet she still manages to look cute as a button. Hmm.

  “I, um, how can I help you?” she asks.

  “Could I grab one of everything you have? And any warm food you can scrounge.” When she still stares at me, I pull out my wallet and wave it at her. “I can pay.”

  She flushes beet red, and ducks to find a box to put my stuff in. “It’s not that, sorry. It’s just, you were at Lucas’ shop the other day.”

  “Sì, I was.” I mull over my words, surprised at two things. First, that I actually want to talk to her about this. And second, that I’m not trying to see how to use her. It’s been a long, long time since I talked to someone without trying to see how they would be best used. But this girl is so innocent, it makes me feel ugly even contemplating such a thing.

  Shaking the thought off, I leave a couple bills on the counter that I’m pretty sure cover the amount due, and then some. The girl’s eyes bulge out of her head when she sees the money. “That’s way too much! I’ll find you some change.”

  “Keep it,” I shrug, and open the box of goodies she hands me, digging into a fresh croissant. A moan of delight escapes me at the buttery taste, and I devour it in a second. “Yum. So worth it!”

  The girl stares at me, not disguising the questions in her eyes. It’s also been a while since I’ve met someone so transparent. “What is it you want to ask me?”

  Another delicate blush colors her cheeks. “You know Lucas?”

  “Yeah,” I say, this time digging into a fruit tart. The crust crumbles in my mouth, leaving decadent vanilla pudding and a mix of berries onto my tongue. I close my eyes at the blissful explosion of flavor. “What’s your name?”

  “Elisandra, but everyone calls me Elle.”

  “Well, Elle, these pastries are freaking deliziosi.”

  “
Thank you, it’s my grandmama’s recipe,” she beams. “Umm, so, how do you know Lucas?”

  I take my time swallowing, then lick my lips before saying, “His father sent me to this town. He...” The slight pause to find my words doesn’t make the lie taste any better. “He misses Lucas, and needs him home.”

  “Oh. We didn’t even know he had family outside of here.”

  I glance around, not sure how to answer that. She sounds almost hurt. Has Luciano – Lucas – really been so secretive with them? And why? Alessandro never really said why he wants him back, only that it must happen. My guess is, if anything, Lucas has something his dad wants. Could it be there’s so much more to the story, or is Lucas just the prodigal son too rebellious to step back into the fold?

  The window covered with cardboard catches my eye again. “What happened here, anyway? Some kind of tornado?”

  Elle winces, and busies herself rearranging an already perfect display of goodies. “Sort of.”

  I catch the hint, and am about to head out with my purchases when the bell of the door rings. The green-eyed guy from Lucas’ office strides in. His smile falls when he notices me by the counter, and his gaze fills with suspicion.

  “Finn!” Elle cries, and her delighted tone automatically takes over him. He dismisses me and contours the desk, before pulling Elle into his arms and kissing her neck. She melts into him, and something about the gesture seems too intimate to behold.

  I turn away with my belongings, a flash of jealousy running through me. I’ve had great sex, and the occasional fling that lasted more than a night. But what they have, that tangible connection, is something as unknown and unattainable to me as a unicorn.

  Before I can get away from their torturous sweetness, his voice stops me. “I reckoned it was only Lucas you were interested in.”

  Frowning, I face him once more. If I play nice, maybe I could find a way into Lucas’ inner circle. “That’s true.”

  “Then why are you here bothering my girl?” His Irish lilt is not soft, rather harsh and accusing.

  “I wasn’t.” Holding up my bag, I smirk. “Was placing money into local business. Looks like you may need it.”