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ALESSANDRO

I bite my lip to avoid making a sound as Isabella turns the corner, looking back over her shoulder. She yelps as she runs right into my chest, bouncing back.

I catch her, gripping her arms to keep her from falling back.

“Alessandro! You scared the shit out of me.”

“What were you up to?” The shocked and nervous expression almost makes me think she just got caught doing something she wasn't supposed to be doing.

“I was just…” Her eyes narrow, catching the smirk on my lips. “You’re messing with me.”

“Maybe a little.”

Her gaze turns heated, a little anger, a little sass.

“You are?—”

“What?” I love the way her lips stay parted, ready to snap back at me with a scathing remark.

Our eyes lock, our bodies inching closer to one another.

I almost lose myself, leaning down, tilting her head up with the crook of one finger just below her chin.

How bad would it be? To just give into this, to let it happen.

Never mind that she's so much younger than me, and that she’s practically a stranger. Something about her breaks through all of my defenses.

“Hey, Aless …”

She tenses in my arms, going stiff at the sound of my brother’s voice at the top of the stairs. He can’t see us, but I let go, letting her step back. I want to ignore him, pull her back toward me.

“Alessandro.” Adriano’s voice is more insistent. His business tone.

“Yes? What do you want?” I don’t bother hiding my irritation.

“For you to come here. I need to tell you something. Now.”

Isabella backs away slowly, eyeing the stairs, then me. I give her a questioning glance, tilting my head.

What’s got her so nervous? She shakes her head, the thought instantly slipping away.

I leave her standing there and join my brother upstairs. “What’s so urgent, fratellino ?”

Adriano gives me a flat look at calling him “little brother.” His eyes flick back toward the stairs, leaving the question unasked.

A lesser man might blush or make excuses.

Not me. It’s none of his business.

“Got a message from town.”

Immediately my mood shifts, the words promising action and an update to our situation. This is important.

I nod for us to step into the east wing, closing the door behind us. “News? Did Ciro call?”

“I told the twins never to call here. I set up a relay. Lorenzo hit me up on the radio from town. He got a message from Ero. One that he wouldn’t relay over the comm. I need to get down there to check it personally.”

“You sure you can’t just call home, get the message that way?” I’m getting desperate for some contact with the outside world.

“Have you checked your cell lately? No bars. The storm has us cut off. Landline isn’t working either.”

“Fuck. You can’t go in this.”

“Lorenzo can get the plow halfway up if I can meet him. With Vincenzo’s truck we should be able to plow through far enough to get out.”

“Too risky.”

“It’s too risky for me not to. Besides, didn’t you want to get Carla and them out of here? This is the best option. Lorenzo said it’s as light as it’s going to get. More snow’s coming.”

“You’re right. I should have sent them home days ago.” I’ve never been one to hesitate to make hard choices, but I’ve been distracted.

Adriano withholds commentary but I can see it in his eyes.

The critique.

“Maybe I should come, too. Get Isabella out.”

“No. Stay put. This could just as easily be a trap to draw you out of hiding.”

“Then take her with you and I’ll stay,” I say, begrudging the thought of losing her as soon as I say it.

“I’m not leaving you up here alone. She stays for now.” A look flashes through his eyes as he says it.

There’s more to that than he’s telling me. He wants to keep her here for a reason.

And not just to keep me company.

“Dammit. This is dangerous. You radio me as soon as you get there, you hear me?” I’m rarely emotional, but I pull him into a hug.

Adriano claps me on the back after a squeeze. “I’ll be fine. This is nothing. Remember our visit to meet with the Bratva three years ago?”

His smile has me grinning along with him.

“We almost froze to death because Yuri left us stranded.”

“Yeah, because you insulted his mother.”

“Father, mother, who could tell? She had a beard.” I chuckle, feeling a little lighter. Adriano will be fine. He’s tough, and Vincenzo is an expert at navigating the mountains in snow. “You get ready. I’ll go tell them the news.”

“More like give them the order. You know Carla isn’t going to want to leave.”

“That’s why I’m going to go tell Vincenzo and Ava, and let them force her hand.”

“Ah, ever the diplomat, Don Alessandro.”

After delivering the order to my staff, I head back upstairs to see Adriano off, help in any way I can. The next hour is a hustle of quick packing, checking the truck, and helping Vincenzo get it out of the garage, clearing a path to the road before pulling it back in to load everything up.

By the time we get everything set, Isabella has joined us, standing in the doorway to the house, a confused look on her face.

“Where are they going?” she asks as I pull down my gator and goggles. Worry hides behind her neutral expression.

“I should have sent them away sooner. We need to get the staff home before it gets worse. Otherwise, we’ll have to start rationing with five of us here.” I try to sound light, jovial.

She’s not buying it.

“Did something happen?”

“Adriano needs to get back to town, as well. Let my company know everything is fine, check for news, you know.”

“Right. Leaving you and I … ?”

Oh. Shit.

The realization hits me that I didn’t explain any of this to her or ask her what she wants to do. A normal host would offer to get her out of here, too.

“Did you want to?—”

“No. Not a chance,” she answers too fast.

“I apologize, I just assumed with your car here and all?—”

“Exactly. I’m fine waiting it out. Honestly, I’d rather stay here than being stuck alone in my hotel room for days.”

“Oh. Good.” I expected more of a fight, or some pushback. Odd.

“Food’s better here, too,” she deflects, smiling and turning back into the house. “I’m going to say goodbye to Carla and Ava. Shut the door, it’s freezing!”

She’s right. Even bundled up in arctic gear, the cold is leeching away my body heat.

Adriano steps out of the truck, checking through his things one last time. “Stay near the radio for me. I’ll call as soon as we make it back.”

“I will. Don’t freeze to death out there.”

“And give the twins the satisfaction of making fun of me for dying in such a lame way? Not a chance.”

“You know what to do if there’s important news? Or the worst-case scenario.”

“I know. I’ll code it back to you, make the necessary calls.”

“ Andare con Dio , Adriano.”

The ladies shuffle out in their warmest gear, Carla fussing over the entire situation, Ava, and her husband. She’s rattling off a barrage of scoldings at me in Italian, wagging her finger.

“Carla, go home to your grandbabies. You can come back and fuss over me when this blows over.”

I wait until they reach the road before closing the garage door and rushing inside to strip out of my snow-covered coat, boots, and pants. The fire in the den beckons me, its heat reviving me.

Isabella leans in the doorway, watching me.

“I hope they’ll be okay.”

“They will,” I shudder, cupping my hands toward the flames. “Will you be alright?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” She shivers, catching a taste of the outside air and pulling back.

“It’s all too easy to get used to someone waiting on you hand and foot. We’ll have to fend for ourselves. Cook. Clean.” If anything, I may struggle with it more than her.

“Oh, the horror! Are you sure you can handle it, Mr. CEO?”

“I’ll have you know that I am one hell of a cook. The twins were extremely picky growing up. Had to get really good at making the one meal they would eat.”

“Which was?”

“Spaghetti.”

“And meatballs?”

“Never got that far.”

“Well then, I’m glad my mamma taught me how to make a few more things than that!” She shakes her head, heading toward the kitchen.

After I warm up enough, I track her down, finding her washing a few dishes and tidying up. “You really don’t need to do that, not yet anyway.”

“Who else is going to do it? And it’s nice to feel productive. This holiday is nice, but relaxing all day and having someone tend to your needs has its drawbacks. I’m used to taking care of myself.”

“I can relate. Feels like you never really have time to yourself when there’s a house staff.”

“Present company excluded.”

“Of course. I’ll admit, it’s been really nice having you here,” I nearly bite my tongue as the words slip out. Not because I don’t mean them. But the look she gives me is smug, like she just won another competition I didn’t know we were having.

A gust of wind hammers against the house, rattling the windows.

The storm is getting worse again.

By nightfall, we can’t see more than a few feet outside the front door, nothing through the windows. I’ve taken to pacing the landing, my fists clenching and unclenching.

“Alessandro?” Isabella asks tentatively, looking up at me from the kitchen.

“I’m fine. Just…I shouldn’t have sent them out in this.”

“It’s alright to worry. I’m sure they’re fine. It probably took them a while to get down.”

No sooner does she offer consolation than I hear static from my office, the radio warbling.

“Hello? Adriano?” I grip the receiver.

“ zzz -Alessandro! We made it.- zzz ”

“Thank goodness.”

“ zzz -Yeah, we made it, but it’s a mess out there.- zzz -I don’t think I’ll be going anywhere for a while.- zzz -Staying at Vincenzo’s.- zzz ”

“Don’t worry about it. Radio me tomorrow, once you’ve had a rest and checked the post , alright?”

“ zzz -Good, will do. You have plenty of food and gas for the generator if need be.- zzz ”

“Thanks, Nonna, we’ll be fine.”

“ zzz -You do remember how to turn the thing on, right?- zzz ”

“I’ll figure it out, smartass. Goodnight. Over and out.”

“ zzz -Goodnight, Aless. Over and out.- zzz ”

I sit back in my chair, looking up to see Isabella standing in the doorway to my office. She looks around, appraising my little sanctum.

“Any chance that thing can call Rome? I was going to let my boss know I was okay.” She holds up her cell phone uselessly.

“Not so much. Landline isn’t working either right now. Must have knocked down the line.”

“Looks like we're extra stranded,” she muses, biting her lip nervously.

“Seems that way.”

We stay that way for a minute, staring at each other.

Being truly alone with her sends a thrill through me. It also makes my mouth go a little dry. “Wine?”

“Definitely.” She leads the way to the kitchen. “And food.”

“I’ll get something started?—”

“Why don’t we do it together?” she counters.

“Deal.”

Fortunately, the fridge is full of leftovers and prepped food, dishes Carla was getting ready for the evening, for breakfast. As confident as I am in my ability to cook, the discovery is a relief.

Setting the spread out on the counter, Isabella sidles up close to me, our hips brushing.

It’s quiet, the hiss of the wind the only real sound other than the clatter of knives and plates.

“You know, we may be stranded for days.”

“Just the two of us.”

“Just the two of us.”

I see her pulse quicken, beating in the line of her neck as she gazes up at me.

My own heart is pounding out of control.

Her hand slides over mine, the touch soft, seeking.

Our meal is forgotten as I reach for her, rushing in for a kiss?—

And the room goes dark with a loud pop.

Pitch black.