ight, but Aria had learned the hard

ept, blissfully unaware of the chaos that had uprooted their lives. Her

of desperation and passion, was

f the bedroom do

re

hirt was untucked, sleeves rolled up, and for once, he looked less

to wake you,"

expression softening. "He sleeps like you

isted. "I wish

ts careful, almost reverent, as if afraid

ow. "The Rossis are regrouping. The

h caught. "F

jaw tightened, his hands balling into fists. "

mean

I don't remember how you vanished? How I searched for you for months before assuming y

e belief that what happened between them was a mistake-an act of surviv

ified me," she admitted, her voi

ut, fingers curling around her wrist with a touch so gentle it made her knees weak. "Bu

between the

ch igniting a fire that had never really died. The air between the

r fingers pressing against his ches

been fair," he replied, v

when the sharp ring of Lorenz

s breath, steppin

receiver. His expression d

stomach

made their move. The Rossis bombed one o

ran cold.

e they get bolder." He glanced at Leo, asleep and

g?" she asked, drea

y door, and I'm going to end this." His voice was de

his world were

ht – Confessio

e of Lorenzo's bookshelves. It was a picture of Lorenzo as a child, no older than Leo,

same intense eyes. But where Leo's gaze was innocent and f

o's voice was softer now as he ent

like you did at his age," Aria said

used to hate that photo. It remind

id. "You became everythi

s bitter. "But Leo does. I won't let t

the layers of steel, Lorenzo was a man clawi

for you," sh

, his grip firm and grounding.

a family

fear he'd never voice out loud. The weight of being

ria," he said, his thumb tracin

stop," she admitted

his lips brushing against hers in a kiss that was b

ive years

r, the air between them no longer heavy with bitt