for a few minutes away from the constant performance of being Lucia Castellano. The engagement party was going well-perhaps too well. Every sm

rror, using the mundane task to center herself and review the intelligence she'd gathered. The Romano-Castellano alliance would control drug traff

evidence the FBI needed t

ught of succeeding

o see another guest. Instead, she saw Marco Romano-Dante's younger brother, Vincent

into the room and turning the lock behind him. "I

me dark Romano features as his brother, but where Dante's eyes showed intelligence and res

le calculating distances to the emergency alarm and the do

a caught the scent of expensive cologne mixed with something else-the metallic smell of

ing heels, a restrictive dress, and had no weapons except her wits and three years of FBI combat training. Marc

ve been looking forward to meeting Roberto Castellano's mysterious niece. Especial

ade Sofia's skin crawl. "Your brother has b

ly white teeth that somehow looked predatory. "Tell me,

of hard work and dedication." Sofia kept her voice steady while slowly

"Another way would be to say we've built our empire on blood, terror,

ather than terrified. "I'm not sure I u

rld you're used to, princess. This is a world where weakness gets

he cold stone against her spine and smell the alcohol on his breath. More impor

ow that last week I personally tortured a man for six hours because he tried

sheltered mafia princess would be horrified by Marco's casual d

ither side of her, trapping her against the marble. "Because if you're going to be pa

o the eyes, break his nose with an elbow strike. But Lucia Castellano wouldn'

id instead, her voice shaking with

tudying every micro-expression. "Because my brother might be impressed by your pretty

t her ribs. "I don't know wha

y heat. "Your story is too perfect, your manners too polished, your reactions too controlled. Real

to channel indignation rather than panic. "How dare you! I'm a guest in y

ushed against her pulse point, feeling the rapid beat of her heart. "

her true identity, and men like him didn't leave potential threats alive to be dealt wit

her mind calculated angles and leverage points. "I don't un

hing about your childhood that only Roberto Castellano's real niece would

tails that would satisfy Marco's suspicion. But she realized with growing horror that no amount of f

Opera. It was my first time in America, and I cried during the final act because I didn't understand why everyone had to die. Uncle Roberto told me t

ng to determine if it was genuine memory or skillful fabrication. So

e question is whether it's true, or whether

as someone tried the handle. "Lucia? Are you in there?" D

aving a friendly conversation with my future sister-in-law," he called out

the lock. Within seconds, the door swung open to reveal Dante Romano in full protective mod

ook in the scene: Sofia pressed against the vanity looking shaken

hly. "Lucia and I were just discussing f

building in Dante's expression and realized that the Romano brothers wer

I think you should return to the

inal time. "Thank you for the enlightening conversation, Lucia. I look forwa

't finished with her-he was simply postponing

Dante immediately moved to So

ffered to wipe her eyes. "He just... asked a lot of

be... overly protective of family

fic, or is this how he treats al

sing gentleness. "Marco believes everyone is lying about something, and he

tartled by his bluntness.

ions." Dante's eyes were serious but not unkind. "The question isn't w

omano, acknowledging that he expected deception while still choosing to trust her. It

things that matter?

ed by the weight of family expectations. "Probably. But I'm h

ew how imposs

Let's get back to the party before people star

rco Romano suspected her identity and would undoubtedly continue investigating until he fo

Dante Romano. His protective instincts, his willingness to trust her despite his suspicions, his desire to change his famil

lexity of her work. But as Lucia Castellano smiled and accepted congratulations on her engagem

ve with the man she w

oing to get th