Page 20

Chapter Twenty

Romeo

The preparations for the meeting are meticulous, every detail scrutinized and calculated. Salvatore thinks he has the upper hand, but he doesn’t realize he’s walking into a trap.

He doesn’t know the lengths I’ll go to protect what’s mine.

Viviana.

I’ve stationed my best men around the penthouse and the meeting location. She won’t leave my sight until this is over, and even then, she’ll be surrounded by guards.

Salvatore’s demand to include her in the meeting was a mistake—his last mistake. If he thought involving her would make me weaker, he underestimated just how dangerous I am when it comes to her.

As I fasten the cufflinks on my tailored suit, my mind drifts back to last night. The taste of her still lingers on my lips, the feel of her body pressed against mine imprinted in my memory.

Matteo steps into the room, his expression grim. “The men are in place,” he says. “Salvatore’s already en route. Everything’s set.”

I nod, adjusting my jacket in the mirror. “Viviana?”

“She’s in her room,” Matteo replies, his tone hesitant. “Guards posted at every door.”

“Good.” My voice is clipped, but Matteo doesn’t move. I catch his reflection in the mirror, his brow furrowed, his jaw tight. I know that look.

“Say it,” I demand, turning to face him.

Matteo exhales sharply, rubbing the back of his neck. “This is reckless, Romeo. Bringing her to the meeting—it’s exactly what Salvatore wants. You’re playing into his hands.”

“I’m setting a trap,” I correct him, my tone sharp. “Salvatore doesn’t control this situation. I do.”

“If he takes her?” Matteo presses. “If something goes wrong?”

“He won’t,” I snap, stepping closer. “Do you think I don’t have contingencies in place?”

Matteo doesn’t flinch, meeting my gaze head-on. “You’re blinded, boss. She’s not just leverage anymore, and you know it. You’re making decisions based on her, not the business. That makes you vulnerable.”

My hands curl into fists at my sides, but I force myself to remain calm. Matteo’s loyalty has never been in question, but his words hit too close to the truth. “She’s the reason I’ll win,” I say, my voice low and firm. “She’s not a weakness. She’s a strength.”

Matteo shakes his head, his frustration evident. “You’re playing with fire, Romeo.”

“I am the fire,” I growl, stepping past him toward the door. “Salvatore will learn that soon enough.”

As I approach Viviana’s room, the guards stationed outside step aside without a word. I open the door to find her sitting by the window, her posture tense, her arms crossed over her chest. She turns to me as I enter, her eyes narrowing.

“Let me guess,” she says, her tone biting. “You’re leaving me here yet again.”

There’s no time for arguments now. “You’ll be guarded,” I say simply. “He won’t get near you.”

She rises to her feet. “You’re bringing me with you?”

He nods tightly. “You have made it clear that you’re essential to this project. That your freedom rests on my ability to deal with Salvatore.”

She smiles brightly at me. “You decided to trust me.”

I stare at her for a moment, feeling an unfamiliar warmth spreading through me. Is this what it’s like to care about someone, to let them care about you back? It scares me, but it’s also exhilarating.

Her gaze sharpens, and she takes a step forward, closing the distance between us. “I never asked to be a part of this, Romeo. I never asked for any of this. You have to promise to set me free once the threat is gone.”

“I might not be able to,” I admit, my voice softening slightly.

She hesitates as she studies me. “And if something happens? If your perfect plan falls apart?”

Her breath catches, and for a moment, the fire in her eyes softens into something else—something I can’t name. She turns away, her shoulders tense, but she doesn’t argue further.

I step closer, lowering my voice. “Stay close to the guards. Follow their orders. Do that, and you’ll be safe.”

She glances back at me. “I want there to be trust between us.”

I sigh, though the weight of her words sits heavy in my chest. “Just know that I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you alive.”

As I leave her room, Matteo is waiting for me in the hall, his arms crossed, his expression grim. “This better work, boss.”

“It will,” I say confidently, though the tension in my chest remains. I’ve calculated every possibility, every risk. This isn’t just about strategy anymore. This is about Viviana.

Because if I lose her, there’s no coming back. If Salvatore so much as breathes near her, I’ll do what I promised—I’ll burn the world to the ground.

Viviana sits on the edge of her bed, her arms folded tightly across her chest as I stand near the door. Her eyes burn into me, but I’ve long since grown accustomed to the fire within her. It’s part of what draws me to her, what makes her so maddeningly irresistible.

“This is reckless, Romeo,” she says, her voice firm despite the tremor I can hear beneath it. “I deserve to be rewarded for helping you.”

“You’re not being dragged,” I reply, adjusting the cuffs of my sleeves. “You chose to come with me.”

“I know,” she says, her voice smaller now. I feel badly about causing her to sound that way.

“So it’s agreed,” I say simply, my tone sharp enough to cut through her rising anger. “Because you’re safer by my side than anywhere else.”

The words hang in the air, heavy and chilling. I watch as her expression shifts, the fire in her eyes replaced by something more fragile—fear, confusion, maybe even the faintest flicker of understanding.

She doesn’t back down. Not Viviana.

“You can’t control every variable,” she says, her voice quieter now. “What if something happens?”

It’s the exact thing Matteo asked, too.

“It won’t,” I say firmly, stepping closer. “I’ve calculated everything. You’ll be surrounded by my men. Salvatore won’t lay a finger on you.”

She looks at me like she doesn’t entirely believe me. That, more than anything, has annoyance shifting in my gut.

I step closer, towering over her, my jaw tight. “Why do you always have to fight me?” I growl, my voice low and dangerous. “Do you think I don’t know what I’m doing?”

“Do you?” she snaps, her eyes blazing. “Because from where I’m standing, it feels like you don’t have a real plan. What about the marriage? What about my father? What have you done about any of this?”

My patience snaps, and before I can think better of it, I grab her chin, tilting her face up to mine. “You think this is a game?” I hiss. “You think I’d risk you if I didn’t know exactly what I was doing?”

Her lips part, and for a moment, I expect her to fire back. Instead, she surprises me. She surges forward, her lips crashing against mine in a kiss that’s all heat and fury. It’s rough, unrelenting, and I respond instantly, my hands gripping her waist, pulling her against me.

This time, she doesn’t let me take control. Her hands press against my chest, her nails raking lightly over the fabric of my shirt before sliding up to tangle in my hair. She pulls hard, forcing my head back just slightly, and when our eyes meet, hers are filled with a challenge.

“This better go according to plan,” she says breathlessly, her voice sharp even as her lips brush against mine. “If it doesn’t, I’ll never forgive you.”

The fire in her words stokes something deeper in me, but I hold back, barely. “It will,” I promise, my voice rough as my hands tighten on her hips. “You’ll see.”

She kisses me again, her movements just as demanding as mine, and for a moment, the world narrows to just the two of us. Her defiance, her strength—it’s maddening and intoxicating all at once. There’s no time to lose ourselves in this. Not now.

A sharp knock at the door pulls us apart, and Matteo’s voice cuts through the heated tension. “Romeo. Salvatore’s here.”

Viviana steps back quickly, her breathing uneven as she smooths her hair. I glance at her, my own pulse still racing, but there’s no time for anything more. Matteo doesn’t wait for a response, his footsteps retreating down the hall.

“Stay close,” I tell her, my tone firm as I adjust my jacket. “And remember what I said. Follow my lead.”

Her eyes narrow, but she nods, her lips pressing into a thin line. “Let’s get this over with.”

When we enter, the meeting room is dimly lit, the air thick with tension. Salvatore is already seated at the long wooden table, his men stationed behind him like sentinels. He rises slowly as we enter, his movements deliberate, measured.

He’s an older man, slender but with an air of strength that belies his years. His silver hair is slicked back, his sharp features accentuated by the shadows. There’s a coldness in his dark eyes, a calculation that reminds me why he’s been a formidable opponent for so long.

“Romeo,” Salvatore greets, his voice smooth and unhurried. He gestures to the seats across from him. “Please, sit.”

I glance at Viviana, who stands stiffly beside me, her gaze fixed on Salvatore. Her shoulders are tense, but she doesn’t falter.

I nod toward her, and she sits first, her movements controlled and deliberate. I take the seat beside her, my posture relaxed, though every muscle in my body is coiled tight.

“Salvatore,” I say, my tone even. “Let’s not waste time. You wanted this meeting. Speak.”

He chuckles, low and quiet, as he lowers himself back into his chair. “Always so direct,” he says, folding his hands on the table. “That’s what I’ve always admired about you, Romeo. No pretense. No patience.”

“Flattery doesn’t suit you,” I reply coldly. “What do you want?”

His gaze shifts to Viviana briefly, and I feel the tension in her beside me. My hand brushes against hers under the table, a silent reassurance. Salvatore’s smile widens, but it doesn’t reach his eyes.

“Isn’t it obvious?” he says, his voice light but laced with menace. “I want what’s mine.”

“She’s not yours,” I snap, the words leaving no room for interpretation. “She never will be.”

Salvatore leans back in his chair, his expression calm, almost amused. “You’re so quick to anger. That’s always been your problem, Romeo. Too emotional. Too...attached.”

The words dig under my skin, but I keep my expression neutral. “You’re too predictable, Salvatore, thinking you can bait me with cheap theatrics. You forget who you’re dealing with.”

The room falls silent, the weight of the confrontation thick in the air. Salvatore’s men shift slightly, their hands hovering near their weapons. My own men do the same, the standoff clear in every glance, every subtle movement.

“You’ve crossed a line,” I continue, my voice calm but deadly. “Sending threats to my territory, coming for her—that was your mistake.”

Salvatore’s smile fades slightly, but he recovers quickly, his sharp gaze flicking back to Viviana. “She’s an impressive piece of leverage,” he says, his tone casual. “Leverage can shift, Romeo. You know that better than anyone.”

I lean forward slightly, my eyes locking onto his. “You’ll find I’m not as flexible as you think.”

The tension in the room builds, the air thick with anticipation. Salvatore’s smirk wavers, and I know we’re at the tipping point.

Whatever happens next will decide how this ends—for him, for me, for Viviana.

I won’t let him walk away unscathed.