Eight Years Wasted on an Unopened Message

The day the last of my things were carried out of the safehouse, I sat in the small place I'd rented under a name the Family didn't track and sent word to Lorenzo Marchetti through our private channel.

"Let's break the pact."

Less than a second after it sent, his answer surfaced.

【Okay.】

I stared at that one word for a long time, and then I laughed.

Across the table, Gianna Romano caught a glimpse of the screen and nearly knocked over her espresso.

"You're kidding. Two bloodlines, an alliance the elders sealed, and the heir lets it go that easy?"