Morett

n't need

launt, beg,

ed. It crushed anyt

derstood that be

d shallow conversations, his eyes fixed on the moonlit garden below. From this height, the wo

ked at him tonight like she wan

rk curved

eyes on her. The Romano heiress was sharp-tongued, pride

't understand was that

nsume

o was playing the role of peacemaker, offering cigars and false laughter to the very men who had tried to slit his throat five years

d never beli

ing Alessia wasn't about love o

e wore his ring, there would be no more lines drawn

wou

defiance in

fire in her eyes. She was raised to obey, to smile, to

er to break. Instead

e him want h

ico, his right hand, entered-silent, dre

u," Nico said with a crooked grin. "May

t him. "I don't want

if contr

wo

, Dante. She has teeth. And her f

of his drink and set t

worse than a p

n't about killing. This is about keeping her close

eyes colder than winter. "Y

st saying. Don't let the pretty

ng unreadable passed

her love. Just

nce-ghosted over him. And for a man who ruled with discipline, who nev

files spread out across the antique oak desk. Contracts. Bank accoun

pt drifting to

es

, her hand caught mid-gesture, hair in soft wav

he alliance was meant to be ink on paper.

him. But he had n

y she stood apart from the crowd, poised but dis

l for her own good.

ith perfect certainty,

conquer the

e him wanted her. Craved the challenge. The

food. But Alessia... sh

e door broke

, brows furrowed.

, voice a cold

leaving through the back garde

xed. "Why the h

came to see A

lood turn

eat, but foolish enough to dream. He'd courted Alessia

sappearing wh

e was

d to sneak in

lowly, like a

is he

anded him a crumpled piece of pap

art of a

don't have to marry hi

Dante's gut, co

lotting a

re

it until it nearly tore. A muscle ticked in his

st proud. She

ot to

her

were silent, the pews empty. She sat at the front, her back to him, a

rn when he st

u'd come," sh

m. "Then you should h

lders st

you obedien

ser, every s

greed. "Bu

facing him. No fear i

thing you

lready

lappe

ed like thunder

didn't

't b

her wrist, and pulled her c

Alessia. You'

red near hers.

n he ki

th ten

posse

met

He deepened the kiss, forcing her to feel the tr

ulled away, her b

"Try to run again, and I

bruised from defiance-and walked into t

she could

hat kind of devil

first bullet had already been loaded-an