ella

tretch for a moment longer before

eparture," Sofia murmured, her sharp eye

g a shadow of proper concern cross my face. "I need to speak with him immediately, but it would be highly inappropriate for me to enter his private office alone, especially during a memorial. Out of *

ting my adherence to tradition. "A wise an

corridor of the East Wing, flanked by Sofia and two of Nonn

"Miss De Luca! Ladies!" Sal stammered, his voice unnaturally loud as he stepped

he thick wood, Genevieve Russo's gr

ble. "Once we get our hands on the De Luca shipping rou

a dark, horrified look. Then

thinks he runs everything, but he'll soon find out that with the De

apped shut

I forced tears to well in my eyes, staring at the d

whispered, her fac

perfectly executed picture of a brokenhearted maiden unable to be

of the mourners, and threw myself directly into

tire room. "I will not do it! A daughter of De Luca will never mar

s turned as cold as a Sicilian winter. She didn't speak, but her lethal gaze lock

ss and grim. Under Nonna Caterina's furious command, they repe

father, Donatello Moretti, dropped to his knees on t

t's a lie!" she shrieked, pointing a trembling fi

cking like a whip across the cavernous room. "Your son ha

s standing by the doors, her eyes blazi

and that wom