ELE MA

he surveillance footage on my screen showed Hazel Santoro stepping out of her father's r

men to tail her the second she'd stepped out of that building, couldn't risk the feis

ted over the intercom, my

," came t

the kind of woman who'd fight a losing battle just to prove she wouldn't su

rcer, she looked like a cornered fox with fear flashing

ered to myself as I t

tensified. The moment the guards opened the double doors, she storme

out, her voice echoing through

mmer as I made my entrance. Hazel's glare fixed on me,

thly, my lips curving into a

You've got to be kidding me. We both know

bottom of the staircase. "But for th

d. "So that's why you had your goons drag me

ou not to try to run, and I couldn't just sit here and

rcasm. "And what the fuck does testolina mean?

sured your safety, you

bitter laugh. "For kidnappin

tical," I replie

ng the space between us. "You're insane if you think I'm just

yet," I said, my voice dropping slightly, a smirk

er displeasure. "You have a sharp tongue, Hazel. I

p wondering, maybe one day you'd be fortunate e

r. She didn't back away, but instead t

on't save you here. Let me make one thing clear, you are un

t you're a controlling, egot

"Careful, Hazel. You don't want to see how far

th glare. I'm sure if she had a gun she would defini

is official," I said

y. The room was dark and overwhelming, with a couple of leathe

r to sit, but she

a folder from my desk and sliding it a

as she picked it up and bega

?" she aske

of your stay and the rules

toro shall not leave the mansion without express permission from Don Raffaele Mancini,

an't risk you doing something stupid,"

eract with staff or visitors unless explicitly authorized by Don Raffaele Man

everyone in this house has my best interests

: Hazel Santoro must inform Don Raffaele Mancini of her whereab

watching her reaction with amu

shed it across the desk. "This is

. "If you care about your father

her, her stubbornness replaced by something softer, may

d. "And you'll thank me for it when you're

a moment, I thought she might walk out. Instead, she gr

know that?" she said as she scr

a stubborn brat. We'l

d me, her reluctance evident even

nd the desk until I was standing in front of her, tow

she asked,

, my voice calm

ed in disbelie

. If you're going to live under my roof, you'll

so tightly I thought she might br

my arms. "But keep in mind, de

, but she stopped herself. She was smart enough to know that testi

d commanding. "Or this arrangement ends