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Painted Sins

Chapter 5 Reluctant Protector

Word Count: 1238    |    Released on: 30/08/2024

els bouncing off the buildings. The threatening phone call and the break-in at my apar

brick wall, trying to calm my frantic thoughts. Who was af

t was just a stray cat or my imagination. But as the figure stepped into the fai

re

a mix of concern and frustration. "I

n from, the very reason I'd been looking over my shoulder for five yea

ed the air. A black SUV skidded to a stop at the

nd pulled me deeper into the alley. "Run!"

footsteps and shouts close behind us. Lorenzo led the

gasped as we tur

is eyes scanning the area. "Bu

e wall beside us. I couldn't stop

Lorenzo urged,

zo didn't slow down, weaving us through the crowd. I struggled to kee

id, pointing to a sleek blac

I'd left at the altar, the man who now led one of New York's most powerful

se in the glow of a neon sign. "Aria, I know you don't trust me

sn't the cold, calculating Mafia boss I'd expected. For a mom

, closer this time. The

ting him guide me int

, and the engine roared to life

weaved through traffic with terrifying skill. In the re

g?" I asked, tryin

lied, his focus on the road.

oiding a collision with a taxi. The angry

rning to face him. "How did you find me?

been looking for you, but not for the reasons you think. And those men... I have my suspicions,

But I'm nobody now. Just a galle

obody,' Aria. And I think you know more than you realize. Th

een so careful, so secretive. They were my backup plan if things went

talking about," I lied, my

hing like admiration in his eyes. "Still a te

window shattered in a spray of

shouted, swerving

still chasing us. Lorenzo's driving was in

ment," Lorenzo said, his voice tens

where he'd taught me to shoot "just in case." I'd thought it

n. It was heavier than I remembered, the weight of it a grim reminder of

my thoughts. "I need you to trust

The years had added a maturity to his handsome face. But his eyes-there was

ping the gun tighter.

lips. "Good. Because we're a

us. When we reached the middle, Lorenzo suddenly slammed o

d be ready to jump," Lorenzo instr

med, eyes wide.

of the old Lorenzo. "But it

nding as I placed my h

st upon us, their

enzo said, tensi

us now. I could see the men i

Lorenzo

ed, looking down at the dark water below. In that b

mp!" Lore

me. The last thing I heard before hitting the wat

, one thought filled my mind: H

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1 Chapter 1 The Gallery's New Client2 Chapter 2 Ghost of my Past3 Chapter 3 Shattered Illusion4 Chapter 4 Midnight Warnings5 Chapter 5 Reluctant Protector6 Chapter 6 Safe House Secrets7 Chapter 7 Trust No One8 Chapter 8 Uneasy Alliance9 Chapter 9 Art of Deception10 Chapter 10 Painted Clues11 Chapter 11 Shadows from the Past12 Chapter 12 Betrayal's Brush13 Chapter 13 Warehouse Showdown14 Chapter 14 Unmasked15 Chapter 15 Escape by Sea16 Chapter 16 Underwater Secrets17 Chapter 17 Cave of Revelations18 Chapter 18 Race Against Time19 Chapter 19 Leap of Faith20 Chapter 20 Gasping for Air21 Chapter 21 The Underground Labyrinth22 Chapter 22 Rooftop Rendezvous23 Chapter 23 Freefall24 Chapter 24 Masquerade of Lies25 Chapter 25 Dance with the Devil26 Chapter 26 Blood on the Ballroom Floor27 Chapter 27 Midnight Run28 Chapter 28 Leap of Faith29 Chapter 29 Safehouse Siege30 Chapter 30 The Mole31 Chapter 31 Divided We Fall32 Chapter 32 The Forger's Brush33 Chapter 33 Family Ties34 Chapter 34 The Lost Daughter35 Chapter 35 Poison Canvas36 Chapter 36 Antidote and Answers37 Chapter 37 The Missing Piece38 Chapter 38 Ashes of the Past39 Chapter 39 Vault of Secrets40 Chapter 40 Phoenix Rising41 Chapter 41 Hospital Hostages42 Chapter 42 Code Blue43 Chapter 43 Trojan Horse44 Chapter 44 The Boss's Daughter45 Chapter 45 Blood and Canvas46 Chapter 46 The Auction47 Chapter 47 Bidding War48 Chapter 48 The Winning Stroke49 Chapter 49 Lorenzo's Gambit50 Chapter 50 The Trade51 Chapter 51 Blood Ties52 Chapter 52 The Hidden Vault53 Chapter 53 Father's Shadow54 Chapter 54 Red Wedding55 Chapter 55 Double Agent56 Chapter 56 Gallery of Lies57 Chapter 57 Brother's Keeper58 Chapter 58 Painted Target59 Chapter 59 The Switch60 Chapter 60 Buried Truth61 Chapter 61 Mirror Image62 Chapter 62 Family Portrait63 Chapter 63 Safe Word64 Chapter 64 The Artist's Signature65 Chapter 65 Moscow Rules66 Chapter 66 Ice Queen67 Chapter 67 Red Square Rendezvous68 Chapter 68 Dead Drop69 Chapter 69 The Defector70 Chapter 70 Poison Canvas71 Chapter 71 Breadcrumb Trail72 Chapter 72 Siberian Standoff73 Chapter 73 Blackmail Bargain74 Chapter 74 The Prodigal Son75 Chapter 75 Tainted Love76 Chapter 76 Heirloom of Deceit77 Chapter 77 Switched at Birth78 Chapter 78 Deadly Auction79 Chapter 79 Collateral Damage80 Chapter 80 Collateral Damage81 Chapter 81 Sins of the Father82 Chapter 82 Broken Alliances83 Chapter 83 Buried Alive84 Chapter 84 Scorched Earth85 Chapter 85 Unbreakable Bond86 Chapter 86 Eleventh Hour Rescue87 Chapter 87 Painting the Truth88 Chapter 88 Vendetta's End89 Chapter 89 Rewriting History90 Chapter 90 Pieces of the Past91 Chapter 91 Changing the Narrative92 Chapter 92 Masterpiece Unveiled93 Chapter 93 The Reckoning94 Chapter 94 Sins Atoned95 Chapter 95 Bittersweet Victory96 Chapter 96 Painting a New Future97 Chapter 97 Second Chance Romance98 Chapter 98 Fugitives on the Run99 Chapter 99 Legacy of Lies100 Chapter 100 Endgame