ent

e the

sed his face

you wow

pped my hand around his arm. I had learned to read subtle c

rovide a front for which I would find my sist

d, his voice taking a softer tone th

air cascaded down her back in loose waves, fra

, I saw something flicker in them. Recognition

ophia said, her voice smooth as velvet. "Matteo has

es plain to hide

et Isabella never menti

te smile. "Matteo told me all about yo

e?" Sophia chuckled, t

l me you were

Especially women who came to events l

s face before she composed herself. "Wel

tr

varro's family tree. The half siblings he was forc

narrowed slightly. "You're playing a dangerous game

hat they were t

remained impassive. "I'm

everything," Sophia continued, a

yes turned back to mine. "She n

warning was loud en

used on me. "She loved... him even if he

iver down my spine. Isabella had loved Matteo

er?" I asked, my ton

, but Matteo cut her off. "That'

, but she said nothing about the situa

way from him. Tension radiated off him in waves,

believe a wor

ants to help me find the woman yo

ng me closer. "She helps herself only, and sometimes her brothers. Don'

I spoke slowly like I

. "Stay out of businesses that doesn't c

lla is?" I asked, my voice trembli

acked me against the wall, away f

bit unto my bottom lip, desperate for a

ister. Dam

he wanted to rip my head

ay away from things that don't concern you. To be safe. There are terrible people in this place, peopl

y eyes at hi

wer, and I di

ked, sighing softly because I

ecause she was

ecause you don't want to go through

person who lays a hand on you a qu

er he said those words. I had no idea Matteo cared a

way from me, adjusting his cufflinks

rty," He said, returning to hi

ts laughing and drinking, obli

he husbands, engaging in polite conversations with

r clues about Isabella. Perhaps this wasn't t

ella could have been a f

h me like a hawk, I k