Chapter 13 - The Silent Puppet
Harper sat in the back of the armored SUV, the small glass vial burning like a hot coal in her coat pocket.
Vincent was sitting beside her, reading over territory reports with a relaxed, confident posture.
He reached over casually and intertwined his fingers with hers, a rare gesture of pure affection.
Every time he looked at her, Harper felt a suffocating wave of guilt wash over her soul.
She was supposed to murder this man before midnight to save a mother who never truly loved her.
They arrived back at the sprawling Rossi estate, which was now buzzing with victorious soldiers.
Vincent led her into his private library and poured two glasses of his most expensive aged whiskey.
He turned his back for just a moment to lock the heavy wooden doors of the study.
Harper’s trembling hand hovered over his crystal glass, the vial of poison already uncorked.
One single drop was all it would take to end the Rossi empire forever.
She closed her eyes and thought about the cold, merciless expression on her mother’s face.
She thought about how Vincent had thrown his own body over hers when the bullets rained down at the diner.
Vincent turned around and smiled warmly, holding his glass up for a celebratory toast.
He noticed the violent trembling in her hands and the terrified tears brimming in her eyes.
His smile vanished instantly, replaced by the razor-sharp instincts of a seasoned survivor.
He did not yell, nor did he reach for the weapon holstered at his hip.
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He gently took the glass from her shaking hand and placed it back onto the silver tray.
He looked directly into her soul and softly commanded her to tell him the truth.
