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"What if you call me?" Melania suggests. "When you're face-to-face with Leonardo, then hand the phone to him. Let me talk to him directly. He'll listen to me."
I consider this. It's not perfect but it might work. Leonardo's loyalty to his sister could outweigh his duty to Antonio.
"It's not the best plan," I admit, "but it could work. One way or another we need to stick with something. Either Leonardo helps us get what we need from Antonio's safe, or we use what we have and prepare for the consequences."
"You're not going alone," Damiano says, his tone making it clear this isn't up for debate. "We need to hear everything that happens with Leonardo."
I raise an eyebrow. "You planning to join me for an early morning workout?"
"No." Damiano leans forward, hands clasped on the table. "You'll wear a wire. We need to hear the conversation in real time, be able to guide you if things go south."
I nod, knowing he's right. Leonardo is a wild card—trained by Antonio but with his own moral code, according to Melania. Having backup listening in gives us an edge.
"Fine. Wire me up."
Damiano looks between Melania and me, then at Enzo who is way too silent.
"We're done for tonight," he says, pushing back from the table looking at me. "Everyone needs rest. We're starting early tomorrow and I need clear heads. I will inform Noah and Matteo that they’ll be coming with you tomorrow."
Damiano turns to Melania, his expression softer. "Melania, I want you to understand something."
She straightens, her shoulders tensing as if preparing for a blow.
"As long as you're with Alessio," Damiano continues, "everyone in this house will protect you. You're under our roof now, which means you're family."
The surprise flickers across her face before she can mask it. I feel a surge of something possessive and warm as Damianoacknowledges what she means to me—what we mean to each other.
"Thank you," she says simply, but I can hear the weight of her gratitude.
Damiano nods once, then stands. "Get some sleep. Both of you."
Tomorrow will be dangerous—approaching Leonardo could either give us the breakthrough we need or blow everything to hell.
CHAPTER 29
Damiano's words echo in my mind as Alessio and I leave the dining room. Family. The concept feels foreign after years of being my father's pawn rather than being his daughter.
We walk in silence through the sprawling hallways of the Feretti mansion.
As we reach Alessio's bedroom door I feel the tension radiating from him—the carefully controlled power that's become both familiar and thrilling. He opens the door, guides me inside, and the moment it clicks shut behind us everything changes.
In one fluid motion Alessio spins me around and presses me against the door, his powerful body caging mine. His eyes burn with an intensity that steals my breath.
"It's about time I got you alone," he growls, in that rough register that makes heat pool in my core.
Before I can respond his mouth claims mine in a kiss that's all-consuming fire. Gone is the restrained man from dinner, replaced by a beast of raw, unleashed desire. His hands frame my face, thumbs stroking my cheeks as his tongue slides against mine.
I melt into him, my fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt. The day's stresses and strains—the planning, the fear, the uncertainty about Leonardo—dissolve under his touch. There's only this moment, only us.
His stubble scrapes deliciously against my skin as he trails kisses along my jaw to my ear lobe.
"Do you know how hard it was," he gruffs, "watching you across that table? Seeing you handle Damiano and the others?"
I gasp as his teeth graze my earlobe, my head falling back against the door.
"I wanted to drag you out of there," he continues. "Take you somewhere no one could hear the sounds I planned to pull from you."
"Alessio..."