ter

onday –

and Paris looked l

floor, smoothing down her navy-blue blazer. Her reflection stared

k a dee

as Dante Romano's

oors of this very building now had a ba

t when she had made a deal with the same m

nt was

cations we

, her fridge

uld do

ha

he entered. The space was sleek and spacious, all glass and stee

no was alr

No tie. Just expensive ar

ook up. "Yo

d at her watch

l not looking at her. "One

to throw her tablet

over her from head to toe. "You dress

d

smi

quiet purpose - she'd spent the entire weekend learning how to be the per

atching her. "Why did you real

t flinch.

for

look. "You were

It was low an

d her more than hi

titude. It makes th

45

n sharp suits. Analysts. Investors. Da

ding a folder marked URGENT. She han

gh the meetin

More

look

page 14? The paragraph about

front of her. She found the page

om was silent again. Then

om the

m h

, he waited until

rprised

doing m

better tha

"I'm not just a

You're something

That E

on the couch with his cartoons and a bowl of cereal. Aria

n today?" he asked, m

Just... c

he villains i

he cold stares, the sudden k

nd

hink he l

Where did you

"He keeps call

e buzzed

it up. Unkn

reful. You're

nna

sabella. This wa

message

anyone. No

ed off t

her now, eyebrows

ing, baby.

rt wouldn't

Mor

ned the world. Arianna was typing up an email when she

uldn't

id an

nt role? Are you out of y

tent," Dante

vulne

s str

er voice. "You're

didn't

how you look at her? You w

plan to c

stood,

t her seconds later, the wom

Dant

yes met, he

could

raction. So

d back to

Gala Nigh

vent. A client de

side," he said. "I

im. "This wasn't in

dated

ent. Simple but elegant. Her hair

e staircase of the ball

ed for h

ed. But gav

up well," h

sed to it,"

smi

aris watched

ry smile. Every m

ked like

na knew t

gle mom in bo

ionaire with

hing burned

had left, they were still standing by

d go," s

a mo

e

pped c

?" she asked. "You don'

e near me, I feel something. And I hav

. "Don't say thin

strand of hair from her fa

e, Dante. It's not even an attractio

e had control. I've had every

ould reply,

ed away.

ar her ear. "I'm not a

ous. "Then you'll g

epped

ssed his face. Not

sp

sed to bei

away. "Get

Arianna open

s a plain

ore i

gle p

en that morning, on

n

urn ad

t p

was watc

very window.

e edge of Leo's be

just surviv

was bei

the only one powerful

rust the devil

, 3:1

hone clutched in her hand,

Walking down Rue Ame

s a block from their apartment.

chi

indows again. The

his room. Peacef

e wouldn't l

had foll

ee, or office rumors, or even Dante

as per

– Romano

s tense. Everyone stared more now - after the gala, after the photo in

gnore

ante's office. He

his chair. Coffee unt

n't lo

a word,"

he l

her face. He stoo

he envelope

He picked it up,

nd cle

d this co

. No name.

ed it ov

ndle it,

e," she snapped. "I brought it beca

kno

we're talking about. I'm a single mother who's worked to

peak for a

etly, "Pa

inked.

Leo are

use

roperties. Guards. Surveill

. "Oh, so now I'm a

problem. You

es me what? A

rotection, because I put you in this position. You spilled coffee

t rising. "You don't ge

." His voice softened.

ted. She wasn't sure

eo," s

o," he

t n

- minimalist, secure, quiet. Dante had a

the halls like

of the guest room bed,

lights bl

hone

ity is tight

idn't

afety had

ng more than just a

ing to feel..

– Unknow

igar between his fingers. A t

nte. Leo. All display

the figure beside him. "She does

about

d. "He won't s

Morning –

She rushed out, panicked-only to find L

ancakes!"

iled. "He's

at are you

on what

n your b

you, A

na fr

's happening? He doesn't just watch you, he listens

ake sense," Ari

e never asks for permiss

othing. Her he

dustries

glass between them felt thinner now. His

m the report

ers brus

inner w

blinked.

Not staged. J

eport

s. Just yo

Every part of h

said,

A Hidden Rest

d an alley. No papa

dles and violin mus

e chair ou

surprises," sh

ayers," h

ere to be

ere to imp

n silence

ed, "What w

look

ther," he

o. He was older. Wea

usi

odded

rry," h

. "You don't ha

ant

nce

"What about you?

y the ones I bur

oth la

it wasn't billio

ust man

ople trying t

Townhouse

in front

ch for her. D

hen Leo's bedroom window

strong,

e learning to be k

huck

ed to go

opped

more

d over he

threat," he said slowly, "I'

e walk

ouse, Arianna tu

phone buz

her

ne was

and

ay she l

ption

t you could

s knees

had fo

ai

n't sure Dante Romano'