In Love With My Husband's Best Friend

f her husband, Luca, wearing a silk gown custom-made to hug her curves like a second skin. Her hair was coiffed, her make-up spotless, her

he had knots

other party tonig

were watching her. And the worst of all

t, Dante exuded an unspoken threat that attracted the attention of every woman around. His piercing green e

is attention by tu

dy would react to Dante,

st of

That translated to him being more impu

rm over her waist. "Come, let's remind th

n her waist a little tighter-just enough

the dance floor. A string quartet played a slo

e wit

n't a

. She hated these performances, but she had been trained to play her part. Luca led t

ening in warning. "You're distracted," he murmu

ding it inside. "I'm ju

ou? Or are you looking at

e out on her sk

ng as he drew her up against him. "R

ilent

in the room, but Elena hardly heard

ouching hers with feigned gentleness. Then with a l

or, fighting to get a grip on herself. She went towards

was no

nd her. "You shouldn't

round quic

t, his eyes enigmatic. He was too clo

oking at you

smile playing on his lips

hands into fists.

he doesn't need to. The way he held

. "I don't need y

You don't understand, El

l into her voice. "Because

retched be

d walk away. She wish

her of t

ardou

open, and Luca took a s

plummeted. D

harp. "Dante," he said slowly. "

d inscrutable. "Just

"Good. I trust my best friend more than any other perso

ry, but she nod

e." He kissed her temple and glanced at Dante. "I would li

ate jumped. Wha

s tensed. "That

s sinister. "Elena has to know more about our way of life. Who is bett

roiled. This

her out with Dante-he was o

eartbeat before he nod

his lips whispering against

nders

d look, and she would nev

with t

out for her to take back control, to harden herself against the seeping tensio

ight o

e light of the moon, he appeared as though a man on the brink of war-wit

lena." His voice dropped

ened. "Then ex

read. "Luca is probing us. This corporate trip is not merely about closing

ed in her ears. "Th

mused. "You really t

d her shoulders

ack to her, more piercing than before. "He's watching, Elena. Perhaps not tonight, perhaps not in the

uld not let fear into her eyes. "I

Then why the devil are you s

t Shouldn'

nches apart-close enough for her to sense the warmth emanating from him, close e

e Luca. Luca's badness lay in his strength, his viciousness

ss lay in the way he regarded her, as if he c

was so mu

iver of space between them. "Yo

n his expression-was

," he sai

A neces

atchf

, and Elena stiffened. She expected to

teo Ricci, one of Luca'

th thinly disguised interest before ali

stuttered. Luc

nging from inner tension to guarded

neer. "Hurry up. You know how h

ng of his jaw. He shot her one last glance-one that was

r hands curling tightly a

alone. But that di

ent M

he ballroom, Luca was standing acro

art th

is expression blank. But the

ee

lass in pretended friendship, playing out the

, deep down, t

licate dance along the high wire – was o

d, someone wou

t Day as Ele

oes, outwitted enemy gangs, and str

had prepared

folded across his chest, he felt cau

stunning black gown, her piercing br

ywhere, are you?" she asked, her vo

. "That's exactly w

ed. "Like

a sh

moment-too long. Too c

ode past him. "Fine.

ng to be a

Hidden

e-a place where deals were made, betrayals were

chair, studying Dante

ut keeping her safe?" Luca

. He knew Luca well e

nter. "Elena has a mind of her own. Too much of one,

ile

d. "You think she'

I need to know the man standing nex

ruck Dante w

t just abo

as a

ng him with very, v

's De

nough of playin

ith his best friend, she'd make

Dante positioned himself close behi

to herself. Ti

ers across a silk gown. "Do you think this would bec

astically. "Per essere sicuro, signora. You

thed out i

ware of his eyes

ell

ce-to-face with Dante's unyielding m

Luca would prefer somet

lirtatiously

econd and then looked away.

en satisfied that

trol only made her w

rst In

off the moment they ste

ch scream

a man staring a

cl

in his coat

't wait to

ing her back against his as

y, hands gripping

re rigid, protecting, his body a

in his breathing. The

no game

and nothing came. No

ill did not

d not relea

rmath: A

ate, Elena

me like that!" she raged a

hed his tresses of hai

as I? Or do you just want an excuse

een them, charged,

orward, closing the distance between t

athing

you think I want to be this close t

the wor

heard it

ost touched. The

clenching his fists. "Stay

ing Elena standing in the

in the

Growing

tudy, his movements sharp with agitation. A decanter of whiskey sat u

ing wa

, and absolute loyalty, but recently, crac

were hesitant. Even his own best

is life all along, but of late, there had been dis

there w

ul, and untouchable. But now, she was unpredict

around his desk. Had he

the door interru

, Marco. The look on his fac

roblem, boss

onflicted

their estate, gazing out over cit

nte for only thinking of

her husband, the man who had

ing was no

te had gripped to pull her to safety a few hours previously. His

under her breath, tur

er head before they consumed her.

e neglected the shadow creeping out

nous M

ity round when a manila envelope

ss. No postage.

ed it up, scanning the grou

o

tore it open and pulled

de you. Choose wisely, or

d peacefully, but he was

s not a

as a p

rt? He didn't kno

al Con

thouse utilized for high-risk conferences. The room was packed with th

oom, gaze sweeping across the r

retly working against me," h

istled. No

nd yet no one in this room has any idea what's happening?" Luca's voic

ghts were a whirlwind. Who was the trait

ts." He sipped it, then placed the glass loudly on the table. "And when

ested on each man

s Sile

p, Dante fell behind,

for years, through

hing was

d, unreliable. His faith

now

e walked down the hall b

his life being f

he was starting to won

e empire were just