tina'

w reality under layers of my life like a dagger slicing through them. Father's past? Romano Fami

calm, under control gaze he always wore-that which had comforted me-now seemed far and frigid. Throughout,

ords crawling out of my throat came out. I ask

g. I wanted to scream at him to give me the truth straightforwardly without hiding it under caution, t

calm but heavy with what he was not saying. He broke them. Years ago, before you were born at all.

d from my life when I was still a small child? Was he part of this dream? "That does not make sense." He

wish Valentina I could tell you it's a mistake." But that is not the case.

voice. "That is what this is, not otherwise. Marital union. Th

roat. All that had been a lie. Every look and every touch-our whole relationsh

him; Luca caught my arm, his grip strong but not

fia conflict I didn't even know existed I have been nothing more than a

His dark, piercing eyes focused on mine with a force that caused my breathing to stop. "Do you suppose Enzo would

his defects and dishonesty. Living in a fantasy where none of this occurred, I had been

en?" My voice was softer, but still somewhat angry when I asked. "Do I just wait for Enzo to com

omforting me by touching my face. Still, he stopped himself and dropped his hand back toward his side. His voice low,

eded him, hated that my life had turned to this. Deeply though, I knew he was correct. No

to keep back. His hand already reaching for the revolver hidden under his jacket, he hurried quickly to

parating me from whoever stood outside. Silence fell for

n peace

or to show a man I had never seen before. Tall with dark hair slicked back and eyes that appeared to sparkle

aid, his voice

though he owned it. "Is that any

't realize we were friends." His body was stif

dening. "Ah, this had to be the gorgeous V

mination. His attitude to me seemed predatory, as thoug

," Luca asked, obviously

e and back toward Luca, grinning

his look incomprehensib

h danger. "You see, Enzo is growing rather irritable. He is bored with waiting fo

down to this. Me personally. My life, my safety, exchanged like money

nt is this?" With a h

g for that inquiry. Enzo lets you retain whatever you have created after you

ng in my chest He failed. He only stared at Dante, his face insensible. I had a flutter of u

ured, my voice

and he fixed Dante squarely. His voice wa

rily. Luca, you are erasing a mistake. E

you to g

ds in imitation submission. "Good, good."

room's tension remained unchanged. If anything, it just

t, I glanced at Luca

e, yet under the surface lurked somethi

ante arrives. Valentina's struggle to trust the man who has misled her has set the stage for a lethal confrontation since Luca's