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“Well, you’re one lucky girl.” Emily grins. “Elio Barone is one of the hottest guys at this university. Who wouldn’t want to be in your shoes?”
Lucky. Is it luck or a carefully laid trap? My friends see a date; I see a chessboard where every move could lead to a checkmate with two dangerous, gorgeous brothers.
“I mean, come on,” Maeve continues, oblivious to my inner turmoil. “the guy is hot and totally into you.”
Lucia laughs. “And let’s not forget he’s practically royalty around here.”
Royalty with a dark crown. The memory of Renzo’s smirk and taunting words repeat in my head. I’d entertained those thoughts for a fleeting moment—a fantasy that now filled me with shame.
Would Elio expect such things from me?
The reflection staring back at me from the mirror is a woman caught between desire and fear, curiosity and repulsion.
“You okay?” Emily’s voice cut through my thoughts.
I meet her gaze in the mirror, pasting another forced smile onto my lips, pushing down the trepidation.
“Yeah,” I lie smoothly. “Just nervous.”
They surround me in a cocoon of laughter and light-hearted banter, unaware of the storm raging within me—a storm stirred by gray-eyed brothers with mysterious intentions.
Taking a deep breath, I try to calm the butterflies taking flight in my stomach.
“Are you meeting him at the restaurant, or is he picking you up?” Emily asks.
“He’s picking me up here,” I reply, glancing at the clock on my nightstand. “Any moment now, actually. You should probably go.”
But their eager faces tell me they’ve no intention of leaving. They want to be here when Elio arrives.
I sigh, realizing there’s no point in arguing. “Fine, you can stay. But please, don’t make a big deal out of it.”
They nod, barely containing their excitement. I can’t blame them. In their eyes, this is a fairytale moment. The handsome prince arrives to sweep the princess off her feet.
But I know better. This is no fairytale. This is a dangerous game, one I’m not sure I know how to play.
A knock on the door jolts me from my thoughts. My heart races as I run my hands down my dress, taking one last look in the mirror.
I open the door, and there he stands—Elio Barone in a perfectly tailored suit, looking the charming and gorgeous man I know him to be. And those gray eyes drag down the length of me with predatory slowness, making my heart race.
The bouquet of white lilies in his hand catch my attention. They’re beautiful, delicate, and pure. A stark contrast to the dark world we both inhabit.
“For you, princess.” He holds out the flowers with a smile that makes my knees weak.
I take them, breathing in their sweet scent. “Thank you, they’re lovely.”
Behind me, I hear the barely contained squeals of my friends. I shoot them a look, silently pleading with them to behave.
Elio’s eyes flick over my shoulder, taking in the audience. “I see you’ve got company.”
I feel the heat rise to my cheeks. “They were just leaving.”
Lucia, Maeve, and Emily take the hint, gathering their things and heading for the door. They each hug me, whispering words of encouragement in my ear.
And then they’re gone, leaving me alone with Elio. The man who has the power to either protect me or destroy me.
He offers me his arm. “Shall we?”
I take it, my hand trembling slightly as I allow him to lead me from the safety of my room and into the unknown.
