Page 118 of Seeking Shadows

No.

I stare at her. She can’t be serious.

But then I remember that yes, she can.

She is Laura.

Sometimes it seems like she can’t see beyond the facts.

My chest tightens, because part of me knows she’s right.

But another part… another part knows there are things much bigger than facts.

Like I said, unlike Laura and my brother, I was raised a Riviera my entire life, and I’m not proud of it. But that doesn’t mean I don’t know what they’re capable of.

She knows I won’t change my mind now. Instead of insisting, she just watches me, evaluating my silence.

"Don’t tell Seth." I ask, remembering this important part.

"He probably suspects."

"Laura."

"Mia," my sister leans back in her chair without wavering, her eyes holding a calculating gleam.

I cross my arms. "Have you always been this stubborn, or has living in the Italian mafia done that to you?"

"Being responsible for the lives of many does that to you."

I roll my eyes. "Please."

Laura sighs, as if she already knows I won’t give up.

"I won’t tell Seth. But I won’t deny it if he finds out."

Okay. I can work with that. I’ll be more careful.

But there’s something else. Something important.

My chest tightens when I look at her.

"I need you to promise me something," I murmur.

Laura raises an eyebrow, waiting for me to continue.

I swallow hard.

“If you need to save me…” My voice trails off, but I force myself to continue. “Save Zane first.”

She blinks.

“Get him out of there. Make sure that, in the end, he lives.”

“Mia.”

“I know you have that power,” I whisper, my heart racing. “And I know you would do whatever it takes.”

She stares at me for a few seconds, then takes something out of her pocket and places it in my hand.

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