mped around her arm like shackles. Her feet stumbled over he

ced over her shoulder, catching sight of

gh the garden with a gaze locked on them, each step a

with steel. She yanked her arm with force, making Vinc

curtly, reasserting control with a tight gr

the garden. "Let me do this, just this." She persisted, turning instinctively, her

breathes too close to me, I'll turn this garden into a graveyard. And I promise you, cara mia, the b

t still thrumming through her skin. Without thi

oice trembling as she threw herself between them, her body shaking. "If

er in a fierce embrace while glaring at Vincenzo with a menacing stare. "That

no asked, his voice low and heavy with guilt,

oward Giuliano, a caustic smile curling the corner of his lips. "Relax, Don Alfonso.

ch a single hair

by stating the obvious. "And as you well know, in the mafia, we take our vows seriously: till death do us part." He paused, a cold s

, his eyes locked, jaw clenched, gripping his

It'd be uncouth to stain the garden, especially in front of the guests." His voice dropped, impassive. "Rats, as you know, prefer to skulk in the shadows." He paused briefly, s

s voice taut, eyes fixed on Vincenz

lfonso replied through gritted teeth, his g

that bastard's brains out pulsed t

on with rage but with

et, a black car waited. The driver, s

o extended his hand to help Vitto

orframe and climbed into the car alone,

a faint smile tugging at his lips as he roun

eyes tracked the vehicles escorting t

e turned toward the window

of safety she knew, she felt the

w to act. Everything around her felt a

the car passed through the gat

stationed at every strategic poin

ined avenue, meticulously trimmed, before

r was already outside, hurrying to open he

for a moment, stood still, watching her back

osed the distance and swept her

d laced with the sting of humiliation as h

her voice thick with anger an

r feet kicked at the air, but Vi

indifferent to her rebellion, as if carrying hi

urmured, his voice slow and dripping with

ld of the mansion like a man claiming what was his, unhurri

asked, her voice taut, still stru

ing in silence, climbing the stairs with st

t touched the floor, Vittoria instinctively back

ched inside his jacket, his eyes ne

through the air between them, and Vittoria's heart r

s voice low, almost a husky whisper, as he a

inctively, her chest heav

er balance and fell back onto the mattress, her ha

ted ease. The smile that curled his l

e barely begun," he said, his voice gra

cheek-not touching, but close enough for her to feel the cold

suggestive path along her neck unti

tore under the cut, his eyes never leavi

I make you moan," he whispered, his voice rough and langui