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“If you can prove that Gastone is innocent—concrete proof, not just sisterly faith—I'll set you free.” I held her gaze. “Otherwise, you cooperate with me until we find who's really responsible, or until your brothers find you and we set the terms for our security before I give you back.”

“And how exactly am I supposed to prove anything while I'm stuck here with you?”

“You'll have contact with your family—supervised, of course. There’s a party coming up. That would be a wonderful time for them to realize where you’ve been, and that’s when you can play whatever part you want in asking them for information. Their reaction to your being taken by us can speak volumes, don’t you think?”

Larissa paced a small circle on the table with her forefinger, coming dangerously close to my thumb. “My family… have they…”

“They’ve been looking for you. Yes,” I said, and her finger stopped so darn close to my thigh, that I swear I thought it grazed me. She stared up at me, dumbfounded, with those big doe-eyes and my breath hitched in my throat, my thigh burning for her to come closer.

“Didn’t think to tell me?” she hissed.

“Didn’t want you getting any ideas for a grand escape,” I shrugged.

“Do they know where I am?” she asked now.

“They’re nowhere close to finding where you are,” I scoffed.

“This deal you offer. What if I refuse?”

“Then you stay here as my guest until this matter resolves itself. Could be days. Could be weeks.” I shrugged. “Could be months.”

She pulled her finger away from the desk and narrowed her eyes at me. “Fine. I'll help you find out who's really behind the attack, because it wasn't Gastone. But I want something else in return.”

“You're not exactly in a position to negotiate.”

“And yet, here I am, negotiating.” There was something admirable about her nerve. “I want more freedom around here. If I want to go out for a coffee, or to the shops, I have to be allowed.”

I considered her request. It wasn't unreasonable, given that she’d been here for weeks already and could remain longer. Being indoors all the time was impossible. “Agreed. But only if your cooperation is genuine and you allow my men to follow you.”

Larissa nodded and rose, extending her hand. “Do we have a deal?”

I took her hand, feeling the smallness of it in mine. She stood so close, that I saw her body turn inward, to protect her chest from grazing mine.

“Deal,” I agreed, holding her hand a moment longer than necessary. “But if I find out you're playing me—”

“Save the threats.” She pulled her hand back. “You're not the only one with something to lose here.”

A silence fell between us. In the quiet, I noticed the way she chewed her lower lip, a nervous tell she probably wasn't aware of.

“I should thank you,” she said suddenly, the words coming out stiff and grudging.

I raised an eyebrow. “For what?”

“For getting me out of that... place yesterday. Before I lost myself.” She swallowed hard, the memory clearly still raw.

“Of course,” I said, softly. “I couldn’t just leave you there now, could I?”

“Right.” She nodded, not quite meeting my eyes. “Still. You helped me out, you talked me through my panic. You …took care of me. Thanks.”

The admission seemed to cost her something, and I found myself wanting to ease that burden. “You're welcome.”

Her eyes flicked up to mine, and suddenly we were back in that moment from yesterday—her pressed against the wall, my mouth on hers, that inexplicable hunger that had overtaken us both. I felt it now, a current running beneath my skin, urging me forward.

She must have felt it too, because her lips parted slightly, her breath catching. The distance between us seemed both vast and negligible. I could close it in a single step.

I thought about how she'd tasted and how her body had fit against mine. My gaze dropped to her mouth, and I caught the slight tremble there. Twenty-five, I reminded myself. Sister to a potential enemy. Leverage, not desire.

The words felt hollow even as I thought them.