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His eyes burn into mine with the intensity of a wildfire. Yes, I'm really starting to like the power I seem to have over him. He closes his eyes as if praying for patience before he lets go of the knob and stalks over to where I'm still standing on my knees. His arm slings around my waist as he crushes me up against his chest. His lips press against mine in a claiming kiss that leaves me breathless.

"You'll be the death of me,mio passarotti."

My hand reaches for his cock, and I fist as much of it as I can, not failing to notice how hard it is already. "Antonio, you feel very much alive to me."

He groans. "I have to go."

"So you keep saying," I tease.

His phone rings again, and I have mercy on him. I let go of his cock.

I'll be right here, I mouth as he gives me an apologetic look and turns to the door.

Talkingto Enrico Sartori on the phone, I climb into the idling helicopter waiting for me on the designated helipad that doubles as a basketball court. As soon as I’m seated, we take off, and I spy a glimpse of a small form standing on the balcony of my suite. We're rising too far and fast to make out her features, but her long, brown hair blows in the wind stirred up by the rotors, and I realize she's only wearing my sheet, which also blows around her long legs. She looks like a vision. Despite the soundproof cabin of the helicopter, I don't hear a word Enrico says. My eyes are glued to Scarlet. For the thousandth time since I met her, I ask myself how it is possible to have my life turned upside down this quickly.

"Toni, are you still there?" Enrico sounds exasperated.

"Yeah, sorry. Got distracted."

"Well, get fucking undistracted and listen," Enrico shouts, more infuriated than I've ever heard him during our long friendship.

I turn away from the window. I need to focus on this conversation. Edoardo has Enrico all riled up. "The fucker has decreed that I cannot marry a woman outside the family," Enrico fumes. "Whatever you’re planning, I'm listening."

"Hold on, what? When did you decide to marry?" I stop him.

He’d told me before about a girl, Catalina, who was living with him and his family right now because she saved his sister's life. But I had no idea he was growing attached to her, let alone wanting to marry her.

"What are you, my goddamn bestie? Do you want to have a slumber party and have me tell you all about my fucking life?"

Well, sounds like Edoardo managed to rile Enrico up pretty good. Enrico is usually more composed than this. Whoever the girl is—and I have a feeling it’s Catalina—has driven her hooks into him deep. A small smile plays on my lips. Enrico was always on my side, but he isn't the capo yet; his father still is. If a vendetta were to break out, I'm not sure Enrico would go against his family. But if there is a woman in play…

And if that woman means to him what Scarlet does to me—yeah, I'm not going too deep into that one right now—anyway, my point is, I would do anything for Scarlet, even if it meant going against the family. If this is where Enrico is at, I just got myself a powerful ally.

I should be jumping in my seat in euphoria at his finally having fully seen Edoardo for what he is, a poisonous snake who sows unrest amongst his capos instead of supporting us. Instead, my mind is filled with sapphire eyes and dark brown hair. Avengingwhat has been done to her is nearly overshadowing my desire for revenge for my father. Luckily, the two go together because otherwise, I'm not sure which path I would take.

"I haven'tplannedanything yet." I push thoughts of a certain brunette from my mind and focus entirely on Enrico. "So far, I've been the only one standing up against Edoardo." Because I need him and don't want to piss him off, I add, "But if he overstepped with you, there is hope the others will follow."

"We need to make that happen," Enrico snarls. "I'm going to marry that girl no matter what he says."

"Just to be clear, we're talking about Catalina?"

A growl from the phone tells me I'm right on both accounts; it's Catalina, and he's head over heels. I haven’t met her yet. Enrico is keeping her close to him. All I know is that another capo, Giovanni Giordano—Donna Margarita's son—kidnapped Enrico's sister, Izzy, and that Catalina saved her. There was a big blowout about it during the last meeting, and Edoardo is still pissed, but he can't do anything about Giovanni being dead, since Giovanni ordered the kidnapping.

I pour myself a coffee from the machine in the corner. Marrying someone against the Don's wishes is dangerous for everyone involved—especially the groom and bride.

"It's been a few months since I've talked to the others, let me put my feelers out and see where they stand. In the meantime, I suggest you postpone your wedding."

"Not happening, invitations were already sent," Enrico replies with his usual stubbornness. "Yours is on the way."

"I’ll need a plus one,” I say, then continue. “Be careful. Edoardo is a snake. He'll strike when you least expect it and against whom you least expect it to happen to." I caution him. I know he already knows this. As his father's second-in-command of the Sartori family, he has been carrying a lot of responsibility for a long time.

"You too; he's watching you. Especially with this Carlos business." Enrico warns me.

"Don't I know it."

"If you need anything…" Enrico trails off.

"I'm good, but thank you. And hey, congrats on the upcoming wedding."