a De Lu

e was worse tha

of the massive mahogany desk, his father's desk, and Ari

ting mix of expensive whiskey

in. When she saw me, she let out a small gasp, burrowing into Alessandro's chest like a star

nic in his eyes, only the faint, irritated frown

. That single, deliberate inaction

crushed beneath Aria's elbow. My heart sank. This wasn't just an affair.

still, to lock my eyes

was a sliver of ice,

impatience. "Who told you to come in wi

o thick I almos

came to report on the North Europ

sh of grudging admiration in their dep

ce like a razor's edge.

adjustment, her eyes fixed on me like

. My pride wo

I insisted, my voic

ll frame casting a long, oppressive shadow over me. He walked until he was s

ith his finger. "Why are you always so boring? You're just lik

at the very things I had cult

ow preening by the desk, "need a living, breathing woma

pture. Sp

ered into a million pieces. T

his, her voice a syrupy poison. "Darling, don't be so harsh

*sister*, was a

only seemed to irritate him further. He felt no gu

at the open door, hi

out. Don't you un