THE MORETTI HEIRESS

ia Mo

Xavier whose surname I still hadn't figured out had a hold on me. And that w

ture, not in our world. It was seen as some sort

ized I had made a mistake. A terri

e heat of his mouth. Xavier. Still a mystery. Still a ghost

no right bei

hair was a tangled mess of waves down my back. The villa was quiet, too quiet. Usually I welcomed

pped. Xavier sc

n my world cou

e popped back into place. My robe hung on the gold hook beside

idn't look like a mafia d

hated

was what happened when you let the outside world in. When you let your guard down for even a moment. I sh

e let him get clos

bedroom door. T

me

n. She'd been with me for years. Loyal. Efficient. More th

milio has been moved

he is," I

the files an

"Then I guess he

my reflection one last time, searching for the crack that kiss had left

obe, steeled my j

-

n his lap, espresso in one hand. His dark suit was perfectly pressed, and his trimmed

greeted. "You

"Do you have somet

less I want to be th

" I sat across

the desk. A deal gone bad. Another family muscling int

"This is the third shipm

e getti

a meeting. Noon. Bring Marco and Dario. I wa

ady d

. That, and he was smart enough n

toda

esit

like he

ha

. "The gala night

ot b

onvinced. "It wasn't abou

raightened.

uit. Looked like he knew how to

icked. "

. you looked different after.

wasn't a

dismissively. "

ut one I

-

rs flying from my lips, and steel in my spine. The shipment was intact, but

n to. My silence was enough to make even Dari

s the only thing that

drifted. Back to the terrace. The way the night had wrapped around

o

the thou

r daydreams. Not in

-

nt straight to my study, poured two fingers of scotch, and sat in my leather

ts. I liked the shadows.

ed with the ri

m my number. But he hadn't tried to

l like an itch I

nestled between two ancient volumes on Sicilian warlords. I picked it up ca

ly thing I ha

r bed while she brushed my hair. Her voi

hey're warning signs. Pay attention to what your he

he died. Before I bur

afford to lis

lid. The lu

-

k at t

I said with

nt as ever. "There's so

t is

ll envelope. No return address. No name. Just my ini

lse j

give a

it was urgent

she was gone be

a note. J

and I won't apologize

twice. T

No demands.

w my hands

more how

seep into me. Let myself feel somethi

I burned

angerous. Like giving h

ide

was no s

ch and stood by the fire, wat

as b

s dan

ady to admit th

utiful, dangerous mistake I co