te'

uage Dante Moret

cross pale stone. Chiara Romano lay motionless in the hall, her lifeless eyes

ess

to w

the air-metallic, final. His men moved silently around him, securing exits, sweeping room

already three

asn't

d come into the heart of this fortress

arn

cov

es nar

spers, hushed meetings. If Alessia was planning something

iara i

sia was

harply. "Wh

in hand. "We found her locked in the

her t

ater, she sto

over a white nightgown stained with du

smaller t

es were st

ard, slowly, like

what yo

't drop her gaze. "I

t. Dangerous. "You just happened to be locked in a

embling. "I tried to open the door, but it

lie t

not l

ace up. Her pulse throbbed beneath

d to bel

in life-pretty things often

o run," he said, voi

yes w

r. I know about Giordano. About the

ent s

did

grip loosened just slightly. "And I'm

second-pure, unfiltered grief

ng Chiara will k

d. "You think

capable

. "If I wanted you te

umbled back, clutching her throat. Her voice

d again, this tim

do

is belt, not in thr

he sa

okshelf as if it could shiel

re, Alessia," he said sof

her eyes-no

m f

afraid

shoul

lappe

nd time in a

isted it behind her back. Not enough

e? Fine. But don't

l her," she s

kno

h surpri

n't change

re planning somethi

oulders trembling. "I didn'

"But now that it has,

ainst the bookshelf,

s. You'll go nowhere without my men. Y

your pr

are

she wanted to scream.

ld feel the b

as c

clo

exhilar

t it burn. Because when the wedding comes,

face to his,

ged there... as

r breathless, broken, and shaki

g the city skyline beyond the estate walls. The storm insi

t killed

omeon

ad been

d remains of the note f

remained

tal

over in his mind. It

e

something to Chia

at he had

the w

n the

ia thought t

what true capt

y villa with no doors, no windows, and Dante's voice whisp