LOGINGiovanni POVGiovanni is in the VIP lounge, sitting on a sofa that tries to appear comfortable but isn’t. One of his men gave him an update about the Catholic orphanage Anna lived in.The headmaster had been arrested and publicly condemned. Meanwhile, the nuns are awaiting trial for covering up the
Anna POVDaisy and the hookup are stunned, but honestly, I am, too.As Daisy starts to talk again, Giovanni glares at her with his icy demeanor, and her mouth clamps shut. All they can do is glare at me, and the hookup throws the skirt that started the argument on the floor before they storm off.I
Once she helps me take our selection to the cash register, I try to not make it obvious that I’m vibrating with excitement. Not because of the new clothes, but because I know that this bill has to be obnoxious.And it is. The number that appears sucks the air from my lungs. How is it possible that c
Anna POVI wake up with a sound that’s half-moan, half-gasp, finding that I’m alone in my room and Giovanni is nowhere in sight.It was a dream.I bury my head in my hands, embarrassment burning under my skin. I had that kind of dream about Giovanni of all people. And the worst part is that I still
Giovanni tilts his head to the side, raising an eyebrow. “What kind of good girl would hear that and come to have a look?”I try to stand up, but Giovanni’s grip on my legs is unyielding, and he has me pinned to the floor. I feel the heat in my face, and I know he’s not letting go of me until I resp
Giovanni POVBy the time night arrives, Giovanni has yet to put the thoughts of Anna out of his mind, despite having told her that she doesn’t interest him. Specifically, his mind keeps returning to the way she undressed that morning at the hospital, staring him down before her innocence got the bet
Anna POVI’m not sure that scolding myself is going to be enough to stop feelings that have already started to form.I’m glad he ignored my protests when he starts helping me, and the pain blooms even though Leandro lifts me from the bed and places me in the wheelchair as gently as he can. But even
Anna POVThe shift happens so quickly, it’s dizzying. One moment, Marco is looking at me like a particularly amusing puzzle he’s figured out how to solve but hasn’t decided is worth the effort.Then, his face is shadowed, becoming all sharp edges like hidden knives.It feels like the air has been su
Anna POVThe oldest man, my new adoptive father, introduces himself as Marco Falcone. His older son with the severe expression is Giovanni, and his younger son with amusement written all over his face is Leandro. I guess I'll have to get used to their names.“You adopted me?” I ask, the words not ma
Anna POVSlap!Slap!Slap!The sharp sound of Sister Marianne’s hand striking my cheek echoes through the hall.I wasn’t late—morning vespers don’t start for another ten minutes—but I was the last one to arrive, and that is its own sin in this orphanage.I hated this rule here but couldn’t do anything.







