na'
pinch me.
tire four-room apartment. The walls were painted in baby pink, and placed in the ce
rom the high ceiling, casting warm lig
ealthy; she was living
rms crossed as she pinned me with a gaze that felt too heavy fo
ttle lady," I replied, crossing my arms
ing her eyes like a detecti
to run away l
rth would I run away from a paycheck that can pay
Lucia asked with a l
hing into my sleeve. "Kids?!
. "You don't look afraid of my
elvet bed. "Because I don't know your uncle personally. Why w
llapsing backward onto her bed. A second later, she popp
true dr
and picking at a loose thread on her pillowcase. "I haven'
ctually cared about me. They either wanted to flirt with my uncle, or they wanted his money. Some trie
uice, the rubber spider, the broken expensive vase-it wasn't malice. It was a
I inched closer and pulled her
her hair. "And I promise you, I have zer
Then, her small arms wrap
ith a huff. "Okay, okay, enough with
, Your Royal High
ted toward the open door. The room's atmosphere imm
ned a
ng casually against its mahoga
esco
t hugged his broad, terrifyingly muscular shoulders. He was a mountain of a man-at least six-foot-six, w
eart: a piercing, ocean blue shade th
me, throwing her a
ece. Francesco leaned down, lifting her effortlessly with one arm. A ge
y possesses human emo
fted back to me, the s
s Popescu?" his deep baritone
e. "Because I have university fees to cover, my younger brothers need books of cour
d I trust you
shot back smoothly. "She needs someone who actually sees her, understands her, and isn't intimida
musement flickered in his blue eyes. Without a word, he set Lucia do
I was holding, my shoulders gave wa
at," Lucia muttered,
utside. Francesco reappeared in the doorway, h
row at 6pm sharp
disappeared
ung open.
and performing an embarrassing victory
horror, covering her face with
tuition coverage, fresh groceries, and a chance t
street. I practically flew up the apartment stairs, tripping o
e small kitchen, where the savory arom
ama!" I
her wooden spoon into the p
you nearly gave me a he
i, came running out of the living room
s D?" Vlad demanded
thing?" Matei chimed in, h
eam," I panted, interlock
!" They chi
the nan
ms around me and twirling me around the tiny kitche
head in confusion. "I thought yo
his one pays ten times as much!" No need to tell
father walked in, his mechanic overalls smeared wi
o him, wrapping my a
ted my back with a clean towel. "Careful, fetița mea, I am
Papa! A high-payin
ed by a radiant smile. He pulled me into a tight, bone-cr
w, it seems good fortune is visiting our family today. I had a
ng a dish towel to help Ma
awe. "One-of-a-kind engine. You only see vehicles like that in m
g slightly in my grip. "Wh
ice into a cautious whisper. "
/1/134547/coverbig.jpg?v=2c2ef6d9141b9b8feac03489662ff7ed&imageMogr2/format/webp)