The photograph
Chapter 25
The Photograph
Amara Queen was happy.
The realization was deeply suspicious.
Extremely suspicious.
Possibly illegal.
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Interesting.
Very interesting.
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Because happiness wasn't something she spent much time thinking about.
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Success?
Yes.
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Work?
Constantly.
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Patients?
Every day.
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But happiness?
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Not really.
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And yet...
Standing beside Lorenzo Vitale with her hand in his...
She felt something dangerously close to it.
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The betrayal.
The emotional-contentment betrayal.
Undefeated.
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The walk back toward the car was quiet.
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Not awkward.
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Not uncomfortable.
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Just...
Easy.
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Interesting.
Very interesting.
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Neither seemed eager to let go.
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A concerning development.
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A very concerning development.
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Eventually the Aston Martin came into view.
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Unfortunately.
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Because reaching the car meant the date was ending.
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The realization annoyed both of them.
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Though neither admitted it.
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Interesting.
Very interesting.
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Lorenzo opened her door.
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Naturally.
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The man possessed entirely too many gentlemanly habits for a mafia boss.
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A serious flaw.
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A very serious flaw.
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The drive back to her building felt shorter.
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Unfairly shorter.
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The city lights blurred outside.
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The conversation drifted.
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Softly.
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Comfortably.
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Until Amara's phone rang.
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Silence.
Immediate silence.
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The surgeon frowned.
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Unknown number.
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Interesting.
Very interesting.
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She answered.
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"Hello?"
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Nothing.
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Silence.
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Absolute silence.
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Then the line disconnected.
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Interesting.
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Very interesting.
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Amara looked at the phone.
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Then shrugged.
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Probably spam.
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Unfortunately...
It wasn't.
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Across the city, Viktor Romano smiled.
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Slowly.
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Dangerously.
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The photograph sat on his desk.
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The newest one.
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Amara and Lorenzo holding hands.
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Proof.
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Confirmation.
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Weakness.
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Interesting.
Very interesting.
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The old mafia boss leaned back in his chair.
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His chest hurt.
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Again.
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The medication wasn't working anymore.
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The betrayal.
The failing-heart betrayal.
Undefeated.
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Viktor ignored it.
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Professionally.
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Naturally.
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He had more important things to focus on.
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Specifically...
How to hurt Lorenzo Vitale.
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Interesting.
Very interesting.
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Back in Chicago...
The Aston Martin finally stopped outside Amara's building.
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Neither moved.
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Immediately.
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Interesting.
Very interesting.
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The engine remained running.
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The city remained alive around them.
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And somehow...
Neither seemed eager to end the night.
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A dangerous development.
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Very dangerous.
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Amara looked out the windshield.
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Then toward Lorenzo.
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Then back out the windshield.
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A tactical avoidance maneuver.
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Nothing more.
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Absolutely nothing more.
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"What?"
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The question came immediately.
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Of course it did.
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The man noticed everything.
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The betrayal.
The observant-man betrayal.
Undefeated.
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Amara sighed.
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Immediately.
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The universal sign of surrender.
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Again.
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A concerning trend.
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"I had fun."
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Silence.
Absolute silence.
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Lorenzo stared.
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Then smiled.
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Slowly.
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Warmly.
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The dangerous smile.
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The one reserved only for her.
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Interesting.
Very interesting.
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"Me too."
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The answer came softly.
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Honestly.
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Without games.
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Without strategy.
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Just truth.
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The realization settled warmly between them.
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Dangerously warmly.
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Interesting.
Very interesting.
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Neither moved.
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Again.
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The tension returned.
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Not bad tension.
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Not uncomfortable tension.
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Something else.
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Something softer.
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Something infinitely more dangerous.
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Interesting.
Very interesting.
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Lorenzo's eyes dropped briefly.
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To her lips.
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Then returned to her eyes.
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Silence.
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Amara noticed.
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Immediately.
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The biological betrayal.
Undefeated.
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Because her pulse instantly accelerated.
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Interesting.
Very interesting.
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The space between them suddenly felt very small.
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Dangerously small.
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The city disappeared.
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The car disappeared.
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Everything disappeared.
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Except Lorenzo.
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Interesting.
Very interesting.
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He slowly reached up.
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Carefully.
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Like approaching something precious.
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Something rare.
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His fingers brushed against a curl near her cheek.
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Silence.
Absolute silence.
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Amara forgot how breathing worked.
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Immediately.
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A concerning development.
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A very concerning development.
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Lorenzo looked at her.
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Really looked at her.
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And for the first time...
There was no distance left.
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No excuses.
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No interruptions.
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No captains bursting through doors.
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Just them.
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Interesting.
Very interesting.
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Then—
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BANG.
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Silence.
Immediate silence.
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The windshield exploded.
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Chaos erupted.
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Glass shattered.
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The world detonated around them.
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Lorenzo moved instantly.
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Pure instinct.
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Pure protection.
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His arm wrapped around Amara.
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Pulling her downward.
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Covering her.
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Shielding her body with his own.
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Another shot rang out.
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Then another.
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And another.
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The first date was officially over.
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Because someone had just opened fire.
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Again.
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And judging by the fury already burning in Lorenzo's eyes...
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Whoever had ordered the attack was about to discover exactly why the city feared the Vitale name.
End Chapter 25