Chapter 149

Sofia. Vengeance had a taste. It was bitter, metallic, laced with the promise of death. I could feel it on my tongue as I sat in the back of the car, staring out at the city bleeding light into the darkness. Neon signs flickered against the glass, a kaleidoscope of color that felt too bright, too alive for what we had just done. I could still feel Vaschenko’s blood drying on my skin. Still feel the weight of the gun in my hand, the kick of the recoil, the way his body had spasmed before he stilled. Dead. And yet, it wasn’t enough. Because Aurelio was still in that hospital bed. Still fighting for his life. Still teetering on the edge of existence, caught between this world and whatever lay beyond. And as long as my brother lay there, trapped in that purgatory, the men responsible didn’t deserve to fucking breathe. I inhaled slowly, pressing my fingertips to my temples, grounding myself in the dull ache. I could feel the weight of their gazes on me—Nikolai’s steady, Luca’s knowing, Nade