a's

g. It was the sound of someone invading my space, testing me, and subverting the

n. Her conflict was not this one. But she never pays attention, does she? Her tenacity is her

very shadow, every flutter of motion drew my eye

an

ly, it

hubris. "You have become soft over this whole marriage process. Who woul

ing to him. Enzo Romano, a dog that had been smelling my heels for years, was sleeping

is? My voice was quie

ouse. "I have my ways." Thought I would drop over to wish you well on your

Valentina, or at least what I was supposed to understand. But this transce

strain between us g

ight tell your newlywed the truth? You know she will soon learn, right? N

ds, my endurance r

htiness on his face, challenging me to start. He was ready

she had disobeyed me. Her eyes wide and full of terror, she was peering beyond the do

d too much, I had to

im toward the door. "You want to engage in games, Giann

challenge me right in my house. Still, he glanced over hi

red. The truth cannot re

behind him. That he had seen Valentina and that he had come this near disgusted me. This was not included in the ag

rms encircling herself as if she were attempt

she asked, "Wha

le enough as it was. She might be totally broken if I toss her into th

worry about," I respo

kering to life once more. "Don't tell me, Luca. You lie. I am ent

ady for this, keeping her in the dark could be more damaging. Knowing she was her

of Enzo's men," I said. "He won't be b

and I watched her realize somet

ed. He d

as clearly developing stress and anxiety about what was next. She cann

'd protect you." Still, you have to believe

I cannot only watch and do nothing. Though I am in it now, I

nd pushing herself farther into the turmoil exactly what I did not want. She

d goes beyond only ensuring your safety. It's about preventing the breakdown of all I have created.

rinkling in perplexity. "Leverage?

o expose. Though the reality was da

ink to something more than just yourself." Your family...you know the Roma

bits beginning to fit her. She had no idea how deep thi

voice scarcely audible. "What

ng ago was close to the Romano family. Before birth. He crossed Enzo's father, and

in her eyes. This went beyond her now as well. It conc

n't know," she said. "I kne

caution now that you do. Enzo won't stop until he h

Romano family. Her brittle confidence in Luca is shaken as she discovers exactly how much he has withheld from her; the threat of Enzo grows more real with every