ther's empire at an age when most were still trying to figure out what they wanted out of life. His father's sudden, mysterious death had fueled rumors: some whispered it was a trusted associat

the mafia king, who was surrounded by a crowd of men, all eager to win his favor. Eve couldn't help but feel the weight of the man's presence-he was

do whatever it took to fulfill her mission. But as her eyes lingered on him, the unease in her chest only deepened. There was some

. The sound of Stacia's high-pitched laughter grated on her nerves, a reminder of the shallow nature of this entire charade. These part

rds were laced with an amusement she couldn't place. Eve looked up to see a man standing beside her,

be an understatement," she murmured, the words slippi

sip from his glass of wine, his eyes never leaving hers. "Let me order

om her lips. Francesco raised an eyebrow, but before he cou

possible to ignore. Her gaze flicked over, and she caught the eyes of a stranger. Their eyes l

"So, Eve," he began, his curiosity

. She couldn't afford to give too much away, but she also couldn't appear too guarded

hy did my brother really bring you here? There

ouldn't ignore the suspicion in his tone. "Mr. Armando doesn't seem to mind keeping things inter

rget my manners," he muttered, his gaze intense as he searched her face. "But tell me... what are you re

o the background as Eve stood there, trapped in the weight of his gaze. What was she? And why

ion flickering to life in strobe-like bursts. The music changed, the bea

anding tall in the center of the room. The crowd moved around him like the tide, but Eve's

gain. "Excuse me," he said, his tone light but somehow knowing. "I

the edge of the crowd, his face a mask of disinterest. "I'm sorry, Anastasia, but I'm about to ste

trast to the wild storm of thoughts in Eve's head. She barely registered his words as he l

s dance. The only thing that mattered now was the stranger who h

en had twirled her around, and in the blink of an eye, she was in the arms of Mr. Miles. His

t a surname, again," he murm

les," she replied, her voice calm, but her mind sti

got everyone's eyes on you tonight. Even the mafia king's. Who am I to

ed on her now. A challenge hung in the air, unsp

d-she was in the arms of the mafia king himself. The music blurred into the background as they danced toget

n them, low and smooth. "May I at least k

whisper. "Eve," she said

eyes, dark and unwavering, locked onto hers with unnerving intensity. A chill crawled up her spine, not from the mafia king's presence, but from the

ger than expected before they both reluctantly parted, returning to their respective partners. Loren's ha

manding. As he neared, Eve's breath caught in her throat. Without a word, he stepped between her and

ich, and dangerously calm. It was a challeng

ndoff. Eve's heart raced as her pulse thrummed in her ears, and for the first time that night, it wasn't the mafi

ripping with a hint of challenge. His eyes

fun to watch, carry on." His consent was clear, and with a careless s

than to defy him. His eyes narrowed, watching from the sidelines, his mind working overtime as he wrestled with his own growing

reaching out, meeting his in a subtle dance of power. There was something magnetic, something inesca

m the music, but from the closeness of his presence, the heat that seemed to emanate from him. The world around her dimmed as the

ing man," she murmured, her

aped his lips. "Yo

er wasn't just another guest at the party. There was an intensity about him, a quiet power that pulled her in, tangled her in ways she couldn't explain. His to

unt of respect?" she whispered,

waist, pulling her impossibly closer. His lips hovered near her ear as

a haze of confusion. What did he mean? And why, despite every

around her like a golden halo. The air between them crackled, charged with something uns

er completely by surprise, he dipped her, sending her head almost to the floo

rs, the weight of the world outside seemed to disappear. There was only h

he stood, breathless and slightly disoriented, in the center of a room filled with the wor

part? She didn't