Sweet On You - By Kate Perry Page 0,6

They like that she's like a more feisty Giada de Laurentiis."

That described Daniela a year ago, but her boss hadn't been feisty in months.

Unaware of her thoughts, Tony continued. "It's a fantastic opportunity. She needs to say yes."

"I'm not sure she will," Marley said hesitantly.

"Which is why I need you to press her."

She fell silent, feeling awkward. Daniela wasn't just her boss but her friend, too. Marley knew this was a good opportunity career-wise for Daniela, but was it what she really needed? Because she suspected what the woman really needed was a long stay in a luxury resort, to rest. "I don't know, Tony."

"It's the best thing for her," he said in his smooth voice. "She's been stuck in this rut for too long, and she's immobilized. She just needs to start moving again and she'll be okay. I have her best interests at heart."

She didn't doubt that. Tony and Daniela were enviably close. Marley had been an only child of a single parent, her dad having remarried and started a new family. She'd always wondered whether she and her mother might be closer if there'd been a buffer between them.

Tony was nothing if not an excellent salesman. He didn't disappoint her. He sensed her hesitation and eased in for the kill. "You're the closest one to her right now. You're the one to save her from herself, Marley."

She pictured herself in a cape and big boots. "I don't know."

"I have every confidence in you."

"Really?" She sat up proudly, bolstered by his praise.

"Definitely. You won't let me down."

She nodded. "I won't."

"Good." His tone softened. "You're the best, Marley."

She hung up, still glowing from his praise. Until she started thinking about telling Daniela about the new show.

Daniela was not going to be happy.

Marley whirled her chair around and looked balefully at Wonder Woman, who stood guard in a framed poster behind her. "I can't believe I let him schmooze me into agreeing."

Wonder Woman's expression seemed to say Really?

She sighed. "I know. Tony's my Kryptonite."

Wonder Woman looked cheerfully unsympathetic.

Marley shook her head and turned around. Next time, she was turning to Aquaman.

Chapter Four

The building was deserted, a shell of what it used to be regardless of its bright exterior.

Nico stood across the street and studied it, remembering despite himself. When he and his brother had lived there, the building had just been gray and prison-like. The artsy facade had been added a few years ago by a local artist trying to ameliorate the neighborhood.

Nothing would ever make this building happier, in his opinion, but he appreciated that someone tried.

Taking the small bottle of Jim Beam from his pocket, he crossed the street and went up the walkway to sit on the front step. The street lamp flickered and then turned off.

Just as well. The shadows suited him just fine when he came here.

He untwisted the cap and took a grimacing sip. The stuff was awful, but it'd been his brother's favorite, so that was what he always brought.

He held the bottle up. "Salud, Eddie."

He poured the rest of the bottle on the sidewalk, watching it drip down the walkway.

The same way Eddie's blood had.

He closed his eyes and rested his head on his folded hands. It was over twenty years later and he could still see the sight clear as day. Eddie's body riddled with bullets, deposited in front of the building as a message.

A message he'd gotten loud and clear, just not the one the gang had intended. Instead, Nico saw it as Eddie's biggest act as an older brother—a warning not to walk the same path he'd errored down.

Nico had been so close.

Now he owned the world.

And soon he'd own this building. He'd destroy it, finally, the way Eddie had always wanted to do when they were kids.

Nico tipped the last bit of bourbon down the sidewalk and saluted the sky. Getting up, he started down the walkway.

And then he stopped, catching a flash of motion. He ducked into a shadow, watchful.

A figure crawled out of one of the partially boarded windows of the building.

Nico moved stealthily closer, careful not to give away his presence. Then he frowned. It was a woman—there was no mistaking the curves of her body or the feminine way she moved.

He watched as she walked to a nearby box, pulled out a bundle, and crawled back into the building.

He hurried after her.

The window opening was jagged with broken glass, and his wide shoulders made it more challenging to enter. Using his foot, he broke