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But he simply smiles and says, “Grazie.”

She smiles and walks out of the room just as Caine wrinkles his nose dramatically.

“This one smells like it’s time for me to leave.” He hands Clara back to Alex. “Dinner’s in an hour,” he adds as he heads for the door. “You remember where the dining room is, right, Alex? And don’t be late. You know how…particular Marco is.”

With a minute to spare, we enter the formal dining room, finding three intimidating faces staring back at us.

“The guests of honor have arrived,” one of the men says, seated beside Caine. He’s tall, broad-shouldered, and attractive, flashing us a boyish grin. His sleeveless black shirt clings to tattooed arms bronzed by the sun, as if he’d spent the day on the beach.

At the head of the table, the other man studies me silently with onyx-colored eyes. Unlike the others, he doesn’t smile. In fact, he shows no emotion at all. “I don’t think we’ve met.” His dark gaze is sharp with quiet curiosity as he leans back, steepling his fingers.

Power oozes off him, to the point you can practically feel it in the air circulating around us. But Alex doesn’t seem affected or fazed by him in the slightest.

“Romeo, Marco.” Alex shifts Clara higher against his chest. “This is my daughter, Clara, and this is…” He hesitates before saying, “Charlotte.” Alex gestures toward the man with the playful grin. “Romeo.” Then toward the one seated at the head of the table. “Marco.”

“And, of course, there’s me,” Caine cuts in smugly. “The favorite cousin. The best-looking one too.”

I roll in my bottom lip, stifling a smile as Alex releases a heavy sigh.

Romeo dips his chin politely toward me. “Pleasure to meet you, Charlotte.” His smile widens, showing perfectly straight white teeth. “I hope you like cioppino. The crab was caught this morning, and the scallops are perfection.” His attention shifts to Clara, softening. “And the chef’s preparing something special for you too, Angel.” He winks.

Clara giggles on cue.

I have absolutely no idea what cioppino is, but judging by the smells drifting through the room, I doubt I’ll be complaining. “Sounds delicious.”

Alex places a hand lightly against my lower back, guiding me toward the empty seats along one side of the table.

The touch is brief.

Yet every cell in my body sparks to life.

I swallow down my nerves, taking the chair he pulls out for me beside Marco before he takes the seat beside mine.

A woman dressed in black appears moments later, carrying a small high chair, attaching it seamlessly beside Alex before disappearing again without a sound.

I glance around the luxurious dining room, admiring everything from the candlelight reflecting off crystal glasses that probably cost a fortune to the open ocean visible through towering windows.

This is truly something else.

As if I’ve stepped back in time, when royalty ruled.

But as I regard each man, I realize that’s exactly what they are.

Kings without crowns, preferring weapons to symbolize their power instead.

Staff members emerge from the shadows, moving with quiet precision as they place the first course before us. The dish resembles a creamy spinach risotto, fragrant with garlic and herbs. Beside me, Clara is far more interested in her spaghetti and meatballs, which Alex cuts up for her. Tiny pieces of pasta scatter across her tray as she triumphantly shovels a sauce-covered bite into her mouth, marinara smearing across her cheeks and chin.

Alex looks down at her, probably wondering how he’ll get the marinara sauce out of her clothes, while a smile takes over my lips.

A server appears beside me, lifting a bottle of wine toward my glass. I swallow the urge to tell her I’m all set, not wanting to appear rude before Alex’s cousins, when Alex speaks and stops her mid-pour.

“Can we get an unopened bottle, a fresh glass, and a wine cork, please?”

The woman blinks a few times, thrown off, but then immediately nods. “Of course, sir.” She scurries away.

Marco raises a thick brow. “Do you not trust my staff?”

“No offense intended, but when it comes to the people beside me, I trust no one,” Alex says calmly, with a hint of warning beneath the surface.