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PART I

‘Turning and turning in the widening gyre

The falcon cannot hear the falconer;

Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;

Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world’

Willia’

CHAPTER ONE

BLOOD AND FIRE

‘Hold your hand out, with your pal me made my heart beat faster I raised

Felice was leaning back in the chair beside Valentino, one stick-like leg propped over the other His arhtly, like he was made of cardboard and so to chop it off, Persephone Try not to let your cowardice show’

‘Felice,’ Luca snapped His jaas so tight he looked like he could chew glass He was sitting directly across the table from me, his body half turned away I wanted him to look at me, to tell otten me here, at least – I had a foot in the door It was foolish to hope for any more

Nic cut his eyes at his uncle ‘The initiation is new to Sophie Let her go at her own pace’

Felice raised an eyebrow ‘If you say so …’

‘Just because she’s a Marino doesn’t mean she’s taken a blood oath before,’ he pointed out

Valentino tugged– thick and cold – pressing against my pulse ‘Let’s hope not,’ he murmured as he flicked his switchblade open

I zeroed in on the handle Valentino The boss

It will be easy It will be quick It’s just a formality

The rooantuanwas a collection of looht Falcone eyes

Valentino punctured the skin at the top ofof the Falcone crest – a criht We watched in silence as the blood fell from my hand

‘At least we know she’s human,’ Felice muttered

I threw him a dirty look ‘Try to control yourself, varade initiation blood’

Felice pointed incri a mockery of it’

Luca balled his fists on the table

‘Stai zitto, Felice,’ Nic hissed ‘Stop goading her’

Valentino releasedon to the paper ‘Say the words we taught you’

I cleared my throat ‘I, Persephone Gracewell—’

‘Marino,’ interrupted Felice ‘Identify yourself properly’

I glared at him

He glared right back He didn’t want this – a Marino inside his ranks, however ignorant I had been to my own ancestry – but he had been outvoted and it was too late now

‘I, Persephone Marino,’ I laboured, ‘swear by my heart andas I a I will demonstrate honour and loyalty at all times, and will not break the sacred vow of oe iance to the House of Falcone and denounce all others, from now until my last breath’

‘Withdraw,’ Valentino ordered

I pulled er inside my fist He picked up the paper and pulled a box of matches from his pocket He struck one, and in that instant I felt ht insidemy brain

I am safe I am free It’s just an illusion

Valentino touched the fla at the edges

Inout I was back in the diner I was inside the fire again I sawatintoand burning, the healing wounds ripped open again

Not here Not now

Luca cleared his throat

I tried to pull hts from the inferno that had ripped my world away The fire was over The pain was all that renore my mother’s face as it swaentle watery smile I’m sorry I’m so sorry, Mom

‘And the rest,’ Valentino prompted ‘Sophie Finish it’

I blinked hard The paper was nearly gone now The fla silver flecks

‘Sophie’ Luca’s voice, quiet and stern, brought me back I refocused I remembered why I was here What I had to do

‘La falia prima di tutto,’ I finished

The fa

The family comes first

My family

Valentino dropped the last shred of paper ‘Sophie Marino, this ceremony symbolizes your rebirth into the Falcone faun and the blade’ He beckoned , jarred by the streaks of similarity between hier

Valentino pressed a hand to either side of ainst each of my cheeks, the movement quick and perfunctory He was inches fro, and a shiver raked upeyes, as he said, ‘Benvenuta nella falia, Sophie’ He dropped his hands and pulled back froain ‘We are one until death’ I