possible to ignore. His face had been earnest when he'd said, "I'm trying to protect you,"

ons were, but doing so would mean stepping fu

aning against the counter as Maria rolled her eyes at his flirtations. He had an uncanny abilit

something from the pant

keeping my eyes on the

casual smile slipping just

lp me?" I asked, my voice low en

w a crack in his armor. He glanced toward the door to make

you?" he muttered, though the

to," I replied,

nning a hand through his

icated

brush me off. But then he leaned in, his voice barely ab

t me like a punch

was... like you-too curious for her own good. She got invol

onfident man I thought I knew had vanish

ontinued, his voice tight.

teful or terrified. On the one hand, it explained his sudden interest

been involved in? And how deep was Luc

was everywhere-escorting visitors, making phone calls, slipping in and out of the mansion at all hours. He seemed to

voices coming from the billiard room. I paused outside

ust her," h

ied, his voice steady but f

the wrong place at the wr

nd I held my breath, strain

eye on her," h

slightly. "See that you do. I d

Luca in the garden, where he was smoking a

ything I do to Adri

of smoke before finally turning his gaze on me.

nswer," I said,

u're going to get," he r

eard you last night. In the billiard room

garette to the ground, crushing it under h

't be lying,

out. But then his expression softened, and he sighed. "I'm not lyi

my voice barely

ly one watching you. There are people in this house who would love to see you fail, El

e were more players in this game than I realize

was truly trying to protect me, why hadn't he

night, as I was cleaning the hallway outside

ose," a man I didn't

ncern," Luca repli

think she's different," the man sna

o the door, strai

ca said, his tone icy. "And if you

and I backed away qu

-he was fighting a battle on multiple fronts. Adrian wasn't the only threat

t

n. As I turned a corner, I ran straight in

rowing as he studied my face. "Y

my heart pounding.

let go of my arm and stepped back. "G

, and as I walked away, I couldn't shake the f