lled of roses
ble columns, crystal glasses filled with expensive wine, and the quiet murmurs of powerful men whispering secrets at tables covered in silk. The most important f
et of red roses, their petals as soft as they
t tailored to perfection. Cold. Unreadable. His dark eyes bore into hers wit
-someone who would protect her, cherish her. But the Luca standing before her now was a king in a
Her father, Don Morelli, sat in the front row, pride gloaming in his eye
been
ed, Luca's voice was smo
er own response barely
g was wrong. A tension coiled in the air,
me the
e. Elena turned sharply, her bouquet falling from her hands as a second sho
bloom of red spreading across his white suit. His eye
ream was drowned
m, but a strong hand g
e ordered, his voic
tector, her only family-was bleeding out
ho had ki
elli men as if they were mere obstacles. Panic spread like wil
him to act, to command his men t
en it
ed. The DeLuca men ha
sn't an
as a b
e looked at the man she had jus
ist tightened slightl
t in time to see Matteo Ricci, her father's old
principessa,"Your fa
ation twisted i
tteo's men grabbed her arms. She thrashe
ice cracked. "
motionless, his hands now tucked i
heart would h
miled. "
hey dragged her toward the exit. She locked eyes with Luca o
for the briefest moment, something chang
it wa
o was
Years
m was alive
in luxury, another night of whispered b
Elena Morelli w
stepped into the lion's den-not as a bride, not as a vi
who had once begged for
the night o
with a new name, a new em
ca DeLuca t