m in front of me, that defined abdomen and the waistband of his boxer briefs peeking out of his dress pants, was a huge distraction, t

as a dangerous dance, a duel of precise strikes. Our hands moved in punches, elbows, and knees,

unted between punches. “A Piro

y technique. When Dante made a mistake, I responded with p

ante,” I said confidently. “

bored breaths echoed in the room, and our bodies were covered

c smile, didn't miss the

girl,” he jeered, dodging

d with precise strikes, but he was agile, and

chance, Bambi,” he

d him with a determined smile. “

dangerous dance of attack and defense. I knew I needed to prove my worth, no

alance and fall to the ground. I pinned him, standing over him with a triumphant s

,” I taunted, brea

at. He pushed me aside and quickly got on to

Dante leaned in, his face inches from mine. A tension charged with electricity hun

his voice rough and laden with i

trated. However, before I could process what

in, making him fall forward. I pinned him, holding his

,” I challenged

in, responded stubbornly, “

ling within me as I continued to exert pressure on h

but wouldn't yield. “I

ubbornness. He was about to give in when an author

e you tw

tore, his stern

*

eps and the penetrating gaze of an experienced leade

doing here? Acting like sav

uld finish, Don Salvatore raised hi

in Italian, his voi

stood beside Dante and me, forming a line in front of Don Salvatore.

each of us, his gaze conveying

Mancuso,” Don Salvatore

d to explain, but Don Salvatore

allow it, Dante,” Don

Don Salvatore cut him off, delivering a slap to his fa

have a business meeting to atte

. Then Salvatore looked at me and the other three brothers, Massimo, Luca, and Matte

t and left to follow

..” He looked at me

tore?” I replie

on Salvatore ordered. “Take Catarina to her room and help her freshen up because she has lu

vatore,” Federica rep

replied, following Federica, le

esolved anything between us. There was an unresolved tension, a strange chemistry th