Page 68 of Ghost Ribbon

I took my seat, the picture of the perfect guest. “Everything smells wonderful, Elena. Thank you again for inviting me.”

Giovanni nodded approvingly from across the table. “We’re happy to have you.”

Elena beamed as she sat down, already serving pasta onto plates. “Exactly. You seem very serious about our Marco. That’s important. He’s a good boy, but he worries too much. You’ll take care of him, yes?”

“Of course. He’s very important to me.”

Under the table, my fingers traced a circle on Marco’s thigh. I could feel the heat of his blush without even looking at him.

Across the table, Luca’s glare hadn’t softened one bit. If anything, it had intensified, his eyes flicking between me and his brother like he was cataloging every point of contact.

Infiltrating Marco’s family had been a good idea. The dinner had gone exactly as I planned. They trusted me now. Welcomed me. It made everything that followed so much easier. Marco could no longer hide. I had already embedded myself too deeply.

***

A few days later, I picked him up at the end of the day to drive him home like usual. I pulled away from the curb and took the turn that led away from his neighborhood instead of toward it.

Marco noticed immediately.

He shifted in his seat, glancing out the window as the familiar streets disappeared behind us. “Alexei… this isn’t the way to my house.”

I kept my eyes on the road, one hand resting on the gear shift. “I know.”

He turned to look at me fully. “Where are we going?”

“My place.”

His eyes widened. I caught the exact moment the words registered, his lips parting, color draining from his face before rushing back in a vivid flush.

“W-why?” he stammered, voice cracking. “You can’t—my parents will worry. They will—”

“I already talked to your mother,” I said calmly. “She’s fine with you staying over tonight.”

I could hear the way his breathing quickened.

“Staying over?” he repeated, the words tumbling out in a rush. “Why am I staying over? I didn’t pack anything—”

“She knows you’re with me,” I cut in, smoother. “She trusts me to take care of you.”

I glanced at him then, letting him see the truth in my eyes.

“I’m no longer satisfied with only seeing you at the academy,” I continued. “I want you in my space.”

His hands twisted in his lap.

“But… but I—”

I pressed down on the accelerator, the engine responding instantly as the car surged forward.

When we finally pulled into the underground garage beneath the building, I killed the engine and looked over at him.

“Come.”

He followed without argument, though his steps were hesitant as we rode the private elevator up to the top floor.

The space was exactly how I liked it. Black marble floors gleamed under the lighting. Dark wood paneling lined the walls, broken only by large abstract pieces of art in deep reds and golds. Marco stopped just inside the entrance.

His eyes went wide as he slowly turned in a circle, taking it all in. I watched the way his gaze lingered on the massive chandelier made of black crystal, the way his mouth parted slightly when he noticed the grand piano in the corner that I never played but kept because it looked right. It was obvious he had never stepped foot in a place like this before.