ent

-haired woman in front of me

nections than her charm, smiled at me as thoug

man infamous in certain circles. He never attended these kinds of events himself. Rather,

were able to leave. S

ou, ma'am." I added a small, practised giggle. "But

e'd have given me a thum

one more important than me in the grand

a sigh o

to do this." A low voice said behin

nd me, his expres

eyes, but I knew better than to tru

l. "I didn't see you as someone who would monitor my progress. What's next? Question

ath. I watched your sister talk about her favourite movies

g almost comforting about the way he said it. It wa

. She talked about her shows a lot,

hat I was

"Buttering up to minor assassins like Chris Blythe is appreciated, but he is no c

't here to show me off. I had a purpose to serv

s on?" I asked, lowerin

n his cloth, bringing us even closer so it wou

sing the crowd. He nodded subtly toward a group of olde

a casual conversation. But they had an ai

erything I ne

werful, and likely controlle

iddle? Holding the lady's wa

hen they moved around so much. He was a tall, silver h

Dressed in a green silk dress the colour of

long time, longer than my father. His influence in all the old famili

y Matteo would want me to approach a man li

t why I chose you, and he wants to assess you himself to see if

runting. This wasn't about making small talk. I had to prove mys

his time, or at the very least convince hi

I asked, my voice ba

find a third

my throat at t

th." Matteo's expression softened for a second. "He respects hon

o calm down my rap

tions before, but someh

I would shut

arely there touch sent warmth down my spine. "You can do this,

deep brea

onger before he let go, stepping back to give me

op family got a new wife. Like a prized auction, she would be presented to make sure s

he supposed to

pt with every one of

prettiest girl he had ever

e whispers flew into my ea

ted as I approached, their

o mine, and for a moment, it felt like t

other hand, gave me

eping my voice steady despite the rapi

o the poin

moment to study me, his sly gaze sweeping over me with a s

oment to step forward.

bella." She

ncredible woman, no doubt. I just hope I ca

seeds. Now, I must wa

ponse. "And why would you think so? She wanted nothing

ver run away from h

giving nothing away. The silence stretched betwee

wait

. His lips widened to sho

rable. Even when what she did l

He would always believe Isabella ran

ice cubes off his s

polite smile. "I look forward to showing you, an

stupid, but no

His ever smiling wife gave me a little wave before

owhere to

the bathroom, he should

een to

must hav

g the dirty looks being sent my way

th

damn mafia. Children would be told

t from a door. And by his side, was a w