The Don's One Night Mistake

d jobs

soup. Worked behind a bakery counter in the middle of July with no air

pect being a nann

hat h

t m

l haunting the

I was

e same tall, black gate that opened on its own-like it

eone inside

t want to think t

around the strap like it could protect me. The mansion loomed ahead-quiet, too quiet. The ki

ung open before I

sn't

as..

More

e, I didn't kn

noticed the

sharp jawline. Sam

were d

r. So

them-which was more than

back to let me in. "You're

, I... I was told

flashed a grin. "I'm Leo. D

fore I could

second, then took it. His palm was warm. His grip g

a," I

just rolled out of bed and somehow still managed to look ridiculousl

t's a compliment. Most of the women Dante hires look like they cam

s... I

"You'll get

ing else, a familiar voi

s El

s bouncing as he launch

u c

atch him. "Of course I di

mile lighting up

inside m

much innocenc

uch

posed to protect him from ex

choose the world

play blocks

way

, already chattering about space ships and lasers. Leo

s and made dramatic sound effects when the blocks crashed. He told me he

deserved to

e "science volcano thing" when I stood

n it ha

ner-and ran stra

y har

I said, stepping back-only

to make an impression,

rvously, brushing my hair be

eople is my speci

with a response, the

pped. Or maybe it j

walk

nd one person enters a room. Like the light di

eak at first

L

m

in the n

he said,

lied, my voice shrink

yful again. "She's al

t smile. "T

o mine. His tone sharpen

myself, so lis

lready sweating

en. No sugar before four. Lunch is prepped by Roberta. Don't ask question

art hit lik

ain, my hea

ut he needs it. Be firm. Use the soun

, trying to ab

that ridiculous space documentary series he

ade me smil

ed. The tutor comes three times a week. You're not expected to teach, but I ex

aid, trying to sound mor

t thank me. Just tur

pi

ives that speech like he's hiring for a prison. Don

wkwardly, s

duced me to two stuffed animals named Captain Zoom and Gloo

he even made me a sandwich, which I hadn'

dn't relax

Dante. Not even

of tha

nding besid

his

Moretti

ded a

sking questions didn't feel

k time, I helped Luca wa

time, something in his expression had changed.

?" I aske

answer r

lly-quiet

ur father ever w

fr

ha

ed righ

e shook his head. "Neve

walke