Knotted paths

igned her name on the con

one-year arrangement for stability, se

bling slightly as she gripped the bouquet of blood-red roses

o DeLuca wasn'

and now, she was abou

ng With

anking officials, and men whose hands were stained with blood. Eve

with delicate lace sleeves and a plunging neckline tha

st wasn't the gown or the int

ven more untouchable. His presence filled the room, commanding absolute r

love in the

t d

corted by Alessio-Lorenzo's right-hand man and the

bout to run," Alessio m

m a glare.

hy don'

he insanity of this situation, a small, dangerous part o

scared her mor

w of

oed through the church

take Elena Romano to be y

pa

a, his gaze steady, controlled. Then, in

d

wallowe

r. "Do you, Elena Roman

kly, before she could

roval swept thr

er-a symbol of possession, not love. Then, the prie

now kiss

ssed between them. They

d around her waist, drawing her in. His touch was firm, po

ps brushed a

n't ro

sn't

nt declaration that s

y, his expression was

lauded. The d

Elena De

, but n

but not

ouldn't shake the feeling that she had

d Rec

the DeLuca estate, a sprawling man

pped between his overwhelming presence and the

er mafia men murmured. "But does

k. "She's my wife. That'

ed. He doesn't defend

ross the table. "How do

agne flute, taking a sl

sold my soul

the ghost of amusement fl

mured. "Now yo

irst

eception ended, E

bedroom-now their shared space-she

't expect me to s

e cuffs of his shirt. "I don't expect anything fro

d in relie

d. "Disap

glare. "Not e

tepped closer-too close. The scent of his col

t," he murmured. "Your l

into the en-suite bathroom, leaving El

nd fell as she c

eed to one

a cold, dist

is marriage was nothing m