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“I won’t make our people bleed to eliminate the entire Nardone clan. If you can guarantee their downfall within a year, that’s the prudent move. But I would prefer that they don’t know what we’re planning.” His glacial gaze fixed on Rocco. “You won’t breathe a word about this meeting to your boss, and I will allow you to leave here in one piece.”
“No,” I snarled, taking a step toward my enemy. “He’s mine.”
I couldn’t let him walk out of here. Not when he’d made it clear that his attention was on Evelyn.
“If we send him back bloody but he doesn’t confess, his boss will think we’re going to war,” Gian told me quietly. “Not yet, Massimo.”
Rocco got to his feet and spared a shrug in Salerno’s direction. “Your loss.”
Salerno scowled at him, his grim expression promising a slow death. “I’ll let Massimo have you when the time comes.”
My blood burned in my veins, a toxic mix of resentment and vicious anticipation. Rocco would die by my hand, but not at Salerno’s command. The cruel old bastard wouldn’t control me for much longer.
I sucked in a breath and leashed my darkest impulses. Allowing my most hated enemy to stroll away unscathed took every shred of my willpower.
Chapter 8
Evelyn
“Evelyn!” Massimo thundered my name as he burst into the apartment, breaking up my pleasant conversation with Enzo.
My heart leapt into my throat, and I raced inside from the balcony to find out what was wrong; he sounded half-panicked.
His eyes glinted with a wild light, and his massive body was taut with strain. He closed the distance between us in three long strides and scooped me up into his powerful arms.
“I’ll see you both later.” Enzo excused himself, giving us privacy to discuss whatever had upset my dark savior.
“Are you okay?” I asked as he carried me into the bedroom—our bedroom.
I only had a moment to get a brief impression of the sumptuous, deep blue room before he laid me out on the four-poster bed and settled his hulking body over mine, as though he was shielding me from something.
His jaw was tight, but his thick fingers were achingly gentle as they trailed through my hair. The motion was meant to soothe me, but I sensed that it calmed him too.
I traced the harsh lines of his beautiful face. “Talk to me. What happened?”
He closed his eyes briefly and blew out a long breath. “I’m all right,” he promised. “And you’re all right. That’s what matters.”
“Of course I’m all right,” I reassured him. “I’ve just been safely at home, chatting with Enzo. Did something bad happen at your meeting?”
He shook his head slightly. “I don’t want to talk to you about my business, dolcezza. I think we will both prefer it that way.”
I kissed his taut jaw. “I want to talk about you. I care about how you’re feeling. You don’t have to tell me anything else.”
I’d made my peace with his criminal lifestyle when I’d chosen to come to Italy with him. We would find a balance that worked for us. His happiness mattered more to me than anything, and I didn’t want him to ever hide his emotions from me.
“I didn’t like being separated from you,” he admitted. “Something happened that made me worried for your safety, but I swear, I’ll never let anyone touch you. This is my home, and I’m powerful enough to protect you.”
I brushed a stray curl that fell over his eyes. “It’s our home now,” I reminded him. “And I know you’ll protect me. I trust you, Massimo.”
He crushed his lips to mine and claimed me with a savagery that bordered on desperation. I gave him everything he demanded of me, holding nothing back.
Chapter 9
Evelyn
The sun shone on Massimo’s golden skin, his muscular chest on full display. My body heated for him, and I was grateful for the cool breeze created by the forward motion of the speedboat. He wrapped one arm around me and steered the boat with his other hand. I leaned into him in complete contentment. To our right, the island of Capri rose from the sea, ancient rock jutting up from the water. The lush greenery was dotted with pale pastel villas and clusters of shops.
As we rounded the small island, the iconic Faraglioni formation appeared before us: three massive, pale grey rocks emerging from the azure sea. Massimo slowed the boat so that we cruised peacefully toward the arch in the center of one of the rocks. It looked small from this distance, but as we neared the massive landmarks, I realized that the arch formed a large enough passage for our boat to glide through it.
