med beneath her hands. The Morelli villa disappeared in the rearview mirror like a dream fading into smoke. Her heart pounded

ght like shards of glass. Talana parked at the edge of the property, the air thick with salt and oil from

study glowed with lamplight. The old man's expression was gr

mes. No one touches her, not Fabrizio, not De Marco. Understand

oded steel door. The smell of dust and oil choked

eaving between rusted machinery and flickering shadows. Then she saw Gianna

d. As she worked at the ropes with trembling fingers, a low

was smooth and venomous,

ward the sound. "Say what you want, but

rolled out o

ue time,

t by the harsh overhead bulb. The reek of whiskey clung to him like sin. He

ked back by another pair of hands. A tall, dark fi

rasped in her ear, dripping with arrogance. "Guess Morell

st his hold. "You think you're going to get

you dare mention tha

man you'll ever be? Because he's coming, and when he

"You belong to me now," he hissed

, and dragged her toward a waiting vehicle outside. Talana thr

cried out, her

f engines faded, Talana

ano's villa. Gianna, shaken but alive, was ushered insid

her, and Drake De Marco, th

t was a trap," he muttered.

ater, his eyes burned with barely restrain

men with you," S

else... someone watching the factory. He'

d. His thoughts snapped to the one ma

ve got it. Meet me there. Tw

vel sprayed as Massimo's convoy tore th

tightened as headlights flash

hat?" Pab

alt outside. The factory doors burst open,and at the entranc

oice echoing across the steel hall. "Matteo

toward the cars. Massimo didn't even look back. His

vanced, Sanchiano

e her to you?" Massimo roared,

on I'm still breathing is because she

into a cold smile. "Th

l me," Pa

me burn everything you, De Marco, an

loser with a blade to her throat.

voice low and dangerous. "Hurt her, and I

g like storm clouds ready to break, and then, a gunshot. The

cked the air, striking De Marco in the sh

hing into Massimo's arms

ed, breathless, his hand trembling a

, snarling from the gr

yes burning. "I'm

n again, and the

igger, eyes fixed on Drake De Marco, who knelt on the floor clutching his bleeding shoulder

er hand trembling as she touched M

ves he's ruined," he hissed through his teeth, his

ink this is over because you got your girl back?" He chuckled darkly, eyes flashing t

en arrogance draining from him. He gl

arked, the madness

nd from Massimo that sent him staggering. "You disgust me," Mass

wer, Morelli? You're a boy playing Don. You d

mand more, Sanchiano's men stepped in. "Boss, w

Take him. Don't kill him," he ord

red, "You'll regret this, Morrelli.

e he could react. "Don't," she whispered, her voice steady but

eplaced by something raw, and dangerous in a different way. "D

a small smile. Her voice wavered, betraying the tr

steady against her ear. "Never again," he murmured,

's men secured the perimeter. Pablo struggled aga

e yelled, voice breaki

u lost that right the moment

all, so venomous, was almost worse than the pain he'd caused. Instead, sh

ry glowed behind them, lit by the harsh flashlights of Sanchiano's men swe

thing sacred. "You're safe now, angel," he whispered again, his voice

es searching his face. "

id simply, his tone stripped of pretense.

ing fluttering through her chest, a pulse that matched

shoulder. For the first time since her mother's death, she felt safe and seen, but she also knew i

"We're going to Sanchiano's villa

ed, eyes lifti

ld you I'd answer your questions? Tonight

ened. "My mother?

with something unre

of headlights cutting across Massimo's face. When they finally reached the villa, the gates

he entrance with his son, Marian

ed out, the Don

r," he said quietly, admiratio

her off guard. "You knew her?" sh

, but first, come. Eat. Rest. T

e gesture that didn't go unnoticed by the old man. "Ma

f the stairs, rushing forward. "Talana!" sh

ed, holding her tightly. "

her tone softening. "Thank

aze lingering on Tala

ning. "Wait, Massimo Morrelli?

ked faintly.

he added softly, "but right now, I'm just the man wh

e and roasted herbs thick in the air. The walls whispere

warmth, a dangerous current stirred. Something about Roberto's words, about her mother, about the way ev

fingers brushing hers. "Eat, angel," he said quiet

m Massimo to Roberto. "What's comin

k with memory. "The truth, my dear,