Page 34

“I’m about to head out for morning lectures, but I really need to talk to you alone, Papa. It’s important. Please, Papa.”

The pause stretches as he seems to weigh my request.Please, please.

“I’m busy,stellina.It’ll have to wait.”

“It can’t wait!” I bite out, my frustration bleeding through—a real emotion in a sea of the lies I usually wield. “I’m coming to see you now.”

“Only if you’re happy to say what you need in a roomful of Romano soldiers. Otherwise, you’ll wait until dinner,” he says, then the line goes dead.

I stare at the phone in disbelief. Clemenza often joins us for dinner. What part of ‘alone’ doesn’t Papa get? Although, considering Clemenza knows me better than he does, why would Papa imagine I’d want to speak to him without Clemenza there?

The irony burns—the man I’m trying to warn Papa about is the one he trusts the most with me.

I find Diego pacing outside my door. “You ready,signorina?”he asks, his face a mask of concern.

I force a smile. “I’m ready. But you’re not coming with me today.”

His eyebrows shoot up. “I can’t leave you unguarded,signorina,not after last night.”

I slip on my sunglasses. “I don’t want you. Get someone else, Diego.”

Fora moment, I think he’ll argue. He hesitates, but then he nods slowly as he realizes the favor I’m doing him. He also understands I’m not coming home tonight. It’s better for his survival if he’s not the one I disappear on twice in a row.

“I’ll get you Fabrizio.” He makes a call while I head to the car.

“Wait here,” I tell Fabrizio, who’s barely said two words to me. Diego usually insists on walking me to the lecture hall and would occasionally sit in, but this one? He’s green. Less cautious.

“Are you sure,signorina?”He looks uneasy but not bold enough to challenge me.

“I’ll be fine,” I lie, stepping out of the car and slinging my purse over my shoulder. The lecture hall entrance looms ahead like a gateway to freedom.

The hall is almost empty; the next lecture is not due to start for another thirty minutes. Once I’m in, I veer left toward the emergency exit. My heart pounds as I push open the heavy door and slip outside.

No standing still, Luna.

I order an Uber, clutching my phone tightly as I count down the minutes until the car arrives. I deliberately empty my mind of every thought, especially about where I’m headed.

The car pulls up, and I hesitate.

This is insane. I have no idea what’s waiting for me onthe other end.

But then, I remember Clemenza’s mocking smile and the way Delilah arranged the ObGyn appointment and I make myself climb in.

I have no choice. I have to keep moving.

Even if I’m running straight into another trap.

12

Cade

You can’t do more for her without risking everything.

I tell myself this for what feels like the thousandth time as I strip off my shirt and sweatpants, heading straight to the shower to wash off the remnants of Chicago and a woman whose touch branded me like a hot iron.

Memories of that innocuous touch on my neck send a fresh spike of arousal through me, my cock hardening despite my iron control.

Another time and place, without so much riding on the moment . . .fuck.I would have broken all my rules and devoured that woman until neither of us could walk straight.