awoke in the guest wing of the Vitale villa, wrapped in linen sheets that smelled

boots on marble. There was a rhythm to Leonardo's world-sharp, guarded, but meticulously controlled. She had always lived in order, in law

e door pulled her

nd opened it to find a youn

u, signorina," the gi

, its dark petals velvety and perfect

heart

and opened the envelo

what you told

lias mean

ve already

They'd been walking hand-in-hand, still pretending they were just students. She had pointed to the flower and said

emory fel

d, training with his men. Shirtless, breath fogging in the morning chill,

id-motion. One look at the flower in

ping away from the sparring m

e shot back. "He'

his fist, and tossed the remains to th

ing, Leo. This

's trying to unsettle you. D

tries somet

flexed. "Then

oice tight. "I didn't co

"You didn't. But you're

on. He didn't ask if she was afraid. He kn

called an emergency m

one-lined war room filled with candlelight and iron chairs. It was

ing her in, you give Romano a weapon. This isn't

, fingers steepled. "He's already cross

sked Marco, one of th

o wants chaos. He wants to force our

ong the men. Tension.

dro followed Leonardo

g you," Sandro

paused.

ike us. If Romano doesn't destroy

angerous. "Then I'll burn this family t

e city, Matteo was m

rs and treachery, reviewing surveillance photos of Elena enterin

just a pretty fac

mmered. "N-

crack in Vitale's armor. The so

t make her life complicated. Subtle things. Power outages. Haras

f she

eamed. "Then we

ivate library, tracing the spines of leather-bound book

he romantic type," she s

t well,"

face him. "Wha

chin. "Now we decide if love

f it i

blink. "Then we

ave run from

she kis

was set in motion. One that would drag them