Once I officially entered La Rete, every trace of my identity would be buried. My name, my lineage, my location, all of it would vanish behind layers of protection that even the Five Families couldn't penetrate. I would become a ghost. And ghosts did not waste their time on the living.
No more listening to these poisoned words. No more living like a fool inside a cage built from lies and false loyalty. No more walking blind toward a death I never saw coming.
I stepped out of the shadows and walked directly toward the three of them. My ankle screamed. I did not limp.
"You wanted to talk to me." I looked between Giancarlo and Salvatore, my voice flat and empty of warmth. "So talk."
Giancarlo's demeanor shifted like a card turning over. The contempt that had lingered at the edges of his expression vanished, replaced by a smile so practiced it could have been carved from marble. He was beautiful in the way that venomous things were beautiful. Dark hair swept back from a face built for magazine covers and murder.
"Seraphina." He said my name like he was tasting it. "This is wonderful news. We'll be in the same territory now. All those years of hard work, and it's finally paying off for you."