ived withou

g after a strike-efficient, silent, mercilessly precise. Elena sensed it before she saw it, felt it in the subt

ng at the faint scuff on the marble floor where her shoes had

urvi

me-firm, c

mission, her expression unreadable.

up calmly. "H

tect

rless breath. "You k

a fraction of a second. "

r w

hoing Alessandro's words from th

waited until the door closed again before she stood and crossed the

here. Guards lined its perimeter n

s tighten

ood the mes

center of

he mirror-the flicker of hesitation, the quiet fracture beneath his control. Power,

, the door o

lessandro en

the weight of command had settled deeper into his bones. His dark shirt was

e knocked," Ele

is my

't make my

tion crossed his fa

my people last

ghtened m

eyed a dir

ted to

to curiosity,

e clearly intended to keep. "No. I reacted t

. "I came here to

lied. "I have a

tween them

ty," Alessandro said. "Your movements w

ost," Elena said. "You wa

o keep yo

hat c

answer i

"Last night wasn't the fir

he adm

on't be t

epends

ully. "You're punishi

to hers. "You thi

. "I think it'

e stre

," Alessandro said finally. "One

Elena said,

t her sharp

y n

ympathy bl

ho crossed them,"

eeper than an

hand through his hair. "You don't

enged. "Instead of locking

owly. "Every person I pr

ht of that truth se

e continued. "But the moment you

e moment you too

y. "And I have been pay

again. "Then stop prete

tension-fear, anger, somethi

e," Alessandro said. "

. "Then stop treating

esit

effort, he said,

ng raw and ungua

"You don't need to ca

ow how many e

t need you to see that control isn't p

Alessandro loo

sk slid bac

rmly. "Tonight, there will be a gatheri

ogether. "You just

as a cost," he replied. "

t to par

" he corrected. "You are un

hey don't

they l

place in the grand

and women dressed in tailored power filled the space, voices low, e

ery gaze li

at the small of her back-not poss

atem

, his voice carrying effortlessl

ion. No jus

ppled throu

der, eyes calculating. "Pro

s gaze evenly. "S

ssage

She understood now-this was not just about safety. T

d into uneasy quiet, Elena found herself alone with Aless

't flinch

er did

ofile. "This life

e replied. "Either way, I

e curved his mouth. "T

"You can't protect

. "But I can prot

s me from you?"

ngered between

dows, the estate breathing violen

sandro De Luca, a truth took r

ion had

coming far too v