hey left me to

allow breathing and the memories of Dante's be

pened, the light seared

ooked impeccable in a charcoal suit, every inch the gentleman, as if

e devoid of warmth. "We have

bling from dehydration. I stumbled for

sheveled form with cold indifference. "Fix yo

me. "Long sleeves. High

ling like sandpaper. "Why keep

Elena. And until the ring is on Sofi

till th

, smiling until my cheeks ached. Dante's hand rested on the small of m

ng from a private balcony, sipping w

r announced t

silver locket, earl

opped dead

to pay off a gambling debt for Dante's younger brother-a debt Da

s sleeve. "Please. That represents my mothe

g his champagne, boredom

of jewelry, Elena

dding

sand. Ten

awing at my throat. "I will never

tiresome child a favor. He rais

almost collapsed. He still cared. S

ce, going

d," a voice rang out

as S

ding her paddle high, like a qu

He didn't counter-bid.

the lad

e, please. Outbid her

s. "She is the future Mrs. Moretti,

he locket up to Sofia. She took it, dangling it b

e. She mouthed t

ned her

ble floor of the ballroom with a sickening

ther the ruined pieces. The guests g

his fingers digging

issed. "You are

metal in my hands. It w

, mixing with t

I looked at the man

st time, I didn

a co

d the thing standing in front of me