er. The towering gates, the sprawling driveway, the grandiose structure-

her heart hammering in her c

is sharp jawline set in an impenetrab

wed hard. N

head, her voice rising. "You c

ere exhausting him. "This isn't about what y

laugh. "Oh, so now yo

rously. "I wouldn't be

herself to stand her ground. "I have an ap

of those words crushed her. "Not after tonight. Alessandro won't le

asn't naïve-she had seen the way Alessandro had looked at her.

f dread coiled

e of his nose before his voice

e to him. "I'm not

ood. Keep that fire, do

r door opened, and a sharply dre

, then turned to

hesit

run. She c

re woul

n have a chance

ath, she climbe

int scent of expensive cologne and somet

e cobblestone driveway, the ma

, elegant, with piercing blue eyes

ce was smooth, but the amusement lac

d impassive. "She's not l

d at his word

a slow smirk curling her l

ided her inside. His touch burned through the

him see how muc

w. Not

gerou

s the exterior. High ceilings, gleaming marble

pulence, there wa

hing

ng unfo

nfident. He finally stopped at a large wooden do

ked. "Wha

r ro

dulous. "You're keeping

"I'm keeping you he

st my

ould you rather be a

d in a sh

. You don't understand the world you've just stepped into. People like Alessandro? They d

ath shu

hand through his hair. "

't know w

argue. She w

n, she knew

n't mean she ha

go home," s

ned-just for a fr

the cold mask returned.

refusing to let the st

before he did, he glance

u feel safer. But know this-n

g in the middle of a room that felt mo

irst

room for what f

d with a mill

this h

ving a normal life. Now, she was trapped in the

e wors

lt safer here th

hand through her hair.

he door-it

pti

arning echoe

ll ever ke

urned away and c

self she wou

self she wou

led her under befo

wanted

tartled h

p, her hear

by the moon filtering

asn't

oved near

before a hand clamped over he

e looked up into the cold, unfor

rm against her skin. "Wouldn't wan

ulse sky

he got

was

't think I'd let him keep you, did you? Dolcezza,

growl rumbled

ore Alessandro was yanked backward, hi

fast she barel

was pinned against the wall, Luca's

take coming her

er wavered. "Just wanted to remind yo

htened. "She be

ckled. "We'll

tened his suit, giving Aria one last lingering glance before

cept for the sound of

r, his jaw clench

ead, still too

g a hand through his hair

" she wh

snapped

time, she di

first time, she

o escaping

was no esc

-