ella

was waiting for me, his face a mask of feigned concern. I walke

u

crooked smile. "Ready t

d my own lips. "More

'll take her home, Luca.

h challenge. "Besides, a Don's daughter deserves better than a glorifie

f Marco's stare. I didn't have th

ca," I said,

e his arm, a

alked away, leaving Marco standing alone in the ster

Marco Ricci's *consigliere* hope t

iere* forever. I have my own ambitions. And they involve a

ne laugh escaped my lips. It was a s

going for just any distractio

m a troubled heart. It was exactly what I needed. My soul felt l

hick with perfume and power. As I stepped through the doors on Luca's arm,

en I s

and An

as surely as I knew my own name. He would

sented, a hush fell over the room. It was breathta

erate longing on my face, and theatrically withdrew her bid. "Oh, no," she said, her voice loud

uted move, designed to

re hard, cold, and full of challenge. He would

ars," he declared, his voice ringing th

family's money, the Moretti fortune, to publicly sham

could feel their whispers, see their smug

not let

e. "One and a half million," I called

ing war