Obsidian Heart

cusation on the nightstand. It wasn't the expense that unnerved her, but the sheer possessiveness of the gesture.

he fragile artistic world she had built starting to crumb

is separate? his voi

of the hotel melted away, replaced by the salt-

go: The Sum

nd freedom. Eighteen-year-old Rocco wasn't "The Boss"; he was just Rocco, a boy with too much muscle, an easy,

as shy, brilliant, and utterly untouched by the darkness that

e in this old wreckage," he

midated by his imposing size. "I see a story. Things that look broken

tic creativity. They spoke of futures that sounded impossibly normal: him studying law, her in a dusty European studio, mayb

ogether on the pier deck, watching the

e to run, Eliza," Rocco murmured

u talking ab

t look back. Just disappear. I have... a debt to pay. A family debt that'

tic imagination. He was just a boy, after al

n Rocco's phone buzzed-not a ringtone, but a jarring, specific vibration. He answered it, and the instant he he

ll bring the cleanup crew.

face already becoming the mask she s

," he said, h

it? What

ns you. Go home, Eli

you just died,

andler securing a wild animal. "I told you, run. Don't follow

itting in the sand. But Eliza didn't listen. Driven by a terrible, sink

where their playful explorations ended. Two hulking men-older, scarred, Rocco's father

's voices was chilling. Then, she saw it: a quick, practiced movement. One of the men pulled a heavy, metallic object from a du

the night, devoid of warmth, devoid of everyt

n Rocco's face-was the fire she wasn't built to survive. She didn't wait to see the inevitable aftermath. She tur

New York. She never called. Rocco had fulfilled

sen

on the pier had simply transformed into the man who now sat on a throne, co

ad given her for the private chauffeur service-a deta

ator. "Cancel the pick-up for tomorrow at the St. Regis. I ne

turf. She wouldn't let him own her by proxy; she woul

of a vast, obsidian office, Rocco received

ne's gallery space? He's been 'discouraged,' Rocco. Gently,

ies buzzing around the only clean thing in this city. She ran once because she felt the d

ielding. "Ensure her driver is waiting. And Dante, tonight

used at the door. "But what

ll her the truth. That leaving her was the on