ut a man by the way he

dget like they'd rather be anywhere else. And

already decided no o

for intimidation. The chandelier above us sparkles with enough crystals to bribe a bishop, and th

e because Luca is sitting across from me,

one it a th

practiced

says, sipping from a glass of red so dark

you've aged. Did you switch moisturizers or j

s the only one laughing. Everyone else fre

. His fork moves. B

ike this?" he asks, c

hen I'm

the table like a loaded g

, Luca speaks again.

at word ag

case stud

ucated. Independent. Defiant. Your father sa

dpan. "Do you use that l

he pret

e I can deliver a scathing

s such a bad match

Then bl

rs, taller by three inches, and the only person in this

t him. "At least you'll

this?" I ask, ge

ve of you burning the plac

to a hug I've gotten si

"Let's remember why we're here. This dinner is symbolic. The Romano-

rol,"

ty," Lu

in pr

's worse than that. It's detached. Like this entire evening is a

s down with the care of someone who's never spille

Blood? P

ily," h

eye. "Only the one

r long

e first time

terri

's just muscle memory. A gesture of c

th right now to decide if he'd rather threaten me, manipulate me, or simply wai

storm i

ays, tilting his

was worried I'd fail

h flying colors

pstairs terrace with a glass of

but I welcome it. It's hone

teps and exp

more glasses and a small smirk.

"Thanks. You're still the only se

like you wanted to st

oes he get off reading a *file* on

g on the railing beside me. "To men

m not mar

re abou

pa

father's made it clea

is. Never have. But... if this goes through, and yo

ha

re not just to survive. You've got your

hard. "Tha

it on the w

. It's short-

h

teps

fa thi

o the terrace, his coat over his sho

Not to Rafa. He doesn't even ac

art warning, part suppor

e and the devil

aste time, d

ineffi

weddings

etween us. Close enough that I can see the flicker of amusement in his

n't care if you love me. I don't care

my voice steady. "You sou

because you care too much to let innocent peopl

Are you th

g facts. The war ends with our w

To throw the wine

one of tho

But don't mistake my coo

oice low and terrifyingly c

e walk

e. No gla

I realize what I'v

st a m

a polit

an who smiles like a corps

no idea how