Send me a flower in the spring breeze Id been with Sal Demarco for six years .
Then , on my birthday , he brought home a girl .
He was covered in blood , and this delicate little thing was tucked into his side .
From that day on , Sal , whod spoiled me rotten , never looked at me twice .
Everyone thought I was heartbroken , pining for a love I couldnt have .
I just smiled and fiddled with the watch on my wrist .
I was an undercover cop , deep in Jerseys biggest crime family .
Id been playing the long game , waiting for the perfect moment to put him away .
Love him ? Hardly .
The house was blazing with lights , even though it was almost midnight .
I sat on the couch , relighting the candles on the cake for the tenth time .
Cmon , Liv , dont wait up .
One of Sals guys , Frankie , looked at me with a mix of pity and awkwardness .
Sal said … he aint coming .
The lighter clicked in my hand , a tiny flame flaring and dying , flaring and dying .
I stared at it , my face impassive .
Hell come .
He promised hed be here for my birthday .
He wouldnt stand me up .
Yeah , right .
The clock on the wall inched toward 3:00 AM .
He wasnt coming .
And here I was , playing hostess to a room full of Sals goons .
They thought I was waiting for a birthday celebration .
Anyone else would think I was hosting a mob summit .
Finally , just before the clock struck four , the roar of an engine echoed from the driveway .
Liv ! Sals back ! Frankie practically yelled , barreling up the stairs .
I stood up , walked to the landing , and looked down .
Yeah , he was back , alright .
Blood soaked through his shirt .
And nestled against him , pale and wide eyed , was the girl .
My jaw tightened .
Sal , I called down , my voice sharp , who is that ? Sal had a long , nasty cut that ran from his eyebrow to his cheekbone .
It was still bleeding freely .
Somehow , it just made him look more dangerous , more … alluring .
I reached for the first aid kit , dabbing at the wound with gauze , but he grabbed my wrist .
Livia , have I been too soft on you ? His thumb traced circles on my skin , a gentle caress that held a hidden threat .
Sal always L had a way of delivering menace wrapped in tenderness .
I looked down , my expression neutral .
Soft ? Not really .
He chuckled , his fingers moving to my pulse point .
Is that so ? Then whats with the welcoming committee downstairs ? Makes me look like Im running some kind of … gang .
Like he wasnt .
Hed clawed his way to the top , one bloody knuckle at a time .
Now he was a respected businessman , all his dirty laundry neatly tucked away .
The newspapers ate it up .
Young entrepreneur , they called him .
It made me sick .
Whos the girl ? I asked again , subtly twisting my wrist free .
He didnt answer , his None of your business , he said , taking the gauze from my hand and pressing it to the cut .
He leaned in , his lips brushing my ear .
So worried about who I bring home … not so worried about how I got hurt .
He nipped at my neck , a playful bite that held a hint of punishment .
Ungrateful , aint ya? The wind howled through the abandoned warehouse .
In the distance , the muffled sounds of a beating echoed .

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Someone offered me a cigarette .
I shook my head .
Sal doesnt like it when I smoke .
I turned to my partner , Seven .
Find out everything you can about the girl Sal brought home last night .
Seven sighed , shoving his hands in his pockets .
Liv , youre the smartest woman I < know .
You should know better than to get mixed up in this … love stuff .
He gestured at the desolate landscape around us .
We both got blood on our hands .
Sal , hes gone legit now .
He aint marrying someone like us .
Were good for the dirty work , the loyalty … but he aint giving us a ring .
He was right .
Sal trusted me , indulged me , precisely because I was his shield .
Id taken risks , done things … things I tried not to think about .
Sometimes , I almost forgot who I was .
An undercover cop .
A nail in the coffin of Sals empire .
A fuse burning slowly toward detonation .
Thirteen years of my life , and the blood of good cops , riding on it .
Lets go pay a visit to our little Miss Innocent , I said , my voice hard .
く Unlike the echoing screams of the warehouse , Sals mansion was quiet and serene .
The girl was curled up on the couch , reading a book .
She jumped when she saw me , her eyes wide with apprehension .
You … she stammered , then lowered her gaze .
Are you Mrs.
Demarco ? I was taken aback .
No , I said , sitting beside her .