In love with Salvatore

ng her. It took some effort, but I released her and sat back in the

Lucia was

also a s

her name and her face. Her sign

I'd never seen a man do it either-or, I should say, when

ndow. "Don't antagonize m

folded her arms across her chest, watching th

eyes had shone through, bright, strong, angry. Very angry. I refused to let the image of how th

needed t

sh her schooling. A year-round, all-girls Catholic school chosen by my father. A small institution hidden away in the suburbs of Philadelphia, where she'd lived comfortably but was under strict supervision. Her movements had been monitored, and at least

wondering if she r

ry for y

rying was when she moved her hand toward her face, preten

oice strained, her face sti

never once, not even in the world we lived in, occurred to me that he could die. My mother had died soon after him. Her death, thankfull

en I'd first met her in person, she'd been sixteen. She'd been pretty, but now, five years later, she was no longer a

ine, I swallowed, uncertain. Uncertainty was not new to me. I lived with it

e, I told myself, I'd had no choice, but I tried not to lie to myself. Not anymore. After that day, something had changed. I owed her something. What that thing was, I did not know. An apology? Seemed stupid, a waste. My protection? She would have that, she alr

r lost sleep over anyt

-four. What cou

d enough. N

meone close?" Her tone dripped sarc

my face tighten, my eye

not

know what it's like to watch people

till, I rema

way from you? To become t

. Yes,

know those things, Salvatore, because if you did, you would feel. You would have some compassion. Be human." She gave

. I saw the driver's eyes flash back at us in the rearview mirror, but

low and quiet. But it was true,

er mouth rising into a smirk. "Did Daddy give you his seal of approval that

I made it a point of looking out the

it, Sal

my silence, mistak

inute," I said. He stepped out of the car

d back

's little pupp

gerous line? That she broached a truth that had kept m

tle closer. I could see the pulse at her neck working, telling me her

id softly, ra

d to it, then b

g that soft, creamy skin. "So pretty," I said, my eyes on

ed, her eye

ly before drawing her to me, my eyes still on those lips. She held her breath. "So, so pretty." My other hand travele

re bringing my mouth to her ear. "Be careful," I whispered, feeling her shu

came up to my chest,

the wolf," I said, "he

ently drew my teeth over it, drawing it out. Beneath the

us. I tapped my ring against the window, absently gla

in place. I buttoned my coat jacket. "Fucking stifling here." I gestured for her to go ahead. She did, refusing to

g room. Our flight to New Jersey left the next day. Lucia would move into my home tomorrow. She'd finished her s

making her eat with my family. A girl I didn't know set the table in the living area and left. The scent of the

y," I said thr

he replied. "I alre

at. You haven't eate

e you, m

he door

y, Salv

ly aski

uff and you'll break my door down? I

led.

was cl

hed the door open. She gasped, turn

I have the key. It's my house." I held it out

more so. I'd taken off the heavy jacket and tie I'd worn ea

se," she goaded. She alread

ng it open. After rifling through her things, I

out!" She lunged to take t

d out of her reach, really s

stubborn so

stepped back and lowered it, inspec

ew y

tcase and attempted to zip it. With a snort, I took her by the arm

me

n dress that reached to just above her knees. She wore no bra, and her small, ro

ucia. You know the contract. You will come live with me. Y

redulous face. "Oh! I

es

wh

ut I shook her once, holding her tighter. Her

e to her breasts while I brushed a thick strand o

could right herself, I climbed on top of her and grabbed her wrists. They were small and delicate and vulnerable. I dragged them out to either side of he

iked

ked

to lick her cunt

r eyes wide on the crotch of my pant

ly out of it for m

d, climbing off the bed, turning my back to her mo

n the fucking ground. I'm the one who's lost everything. I'm th

med down her face. She looked at me with puffy, red e

u

tissues out of the box on the n

ed again, her voice quivering as he

d at me-did she t

an asshole. "I meant it earlier, when I said I

d silent, w

close with your fathe

her. I knew how my father would do that. Knew he'd call me w

ong fucking week. We're both tired. Jus

out the door of the suite, trying to shake off t

ss," Marco said as I wa

y friend. One of the very few in the

ake sure she doesn't

o no

father's rooms were on the top floor, and Dominic's were down the hall from mine. The second floo

around the table, my father at its head. He looked at me, his gaze flat. I wondered what he thought of me right at that moment. If he was surprised to see me

ct he sat to my fath

advisor, Roman, who sat to my father's left, got up. He was

vato

seat. I thanked

ned toward me. "Thought you'd be b

of there. I hadn't been back in a few years but knew when we were in town, the house became a target. The Benedetti family was a sort of legend here. We owned southern Italy and wer

layed back

hen I didn't have anyth

en she hadn't been more than a child. Her sister's preg

," Dominic continued, sippin

Dominic," I said,

d her father," my father admonished

My father had always been better at cut

, son. I don't ever want to see another incid

were, my father

king at him, swallow

Let's