Chapter 5

MARCO POV

Luca’s office smells like control.

Leather, espresso, and whatever cologne he wears to remind people he’s the oldest.

Aria is sitting in the cold chair. Again.

She looks smaller today. Tired. But her back is straight. She didn’t bow. She never bows.

That’s the problem.

"Close the door," Luca says.

She does.

"Sit."

She’s already sitting.

I’m leaning against the window because if I sit next to her I’ll do something stupid. Like reach over and fix her hair. Or punch Luca for making her sit through this.

"Breakfast was a mess," Luca says.

"Yes." Aria’s voice is steady.

"Victoria is a problem."

"I know."

"And you," Luca points at her, "are now her problem."

I almost laugh. Now her problem. Like Aria wasn’t already everyone’s problem the second she walked in here and spilled water on Victoria’s $8000 dress.

"I didn’t start it," Aria says.

"No," Luca says. "You finished it. You talked back."

"I wasn’t going to let her—"

"I don’t care what you were going to do," Luca cuts in. "I care what happens next. Carusos don’t forget being embarrassed. Especially not by staff."

Staff.

That word makes my jaw tick.

She’s not staff to me. Not anymore. Not after last night in the west wing. Not after she looked at those photos and didn’t scream.

"She had it coming," I say.

"Stay out of this," Luca says to me.

"No."

Luca looks at me. Really looks. "You’re defending her again."

"Someone has to," I say. "She’s 21. She’s broke. She walked into this house and got thrown to Victoria in 12 hours. And she didn’t flinch."

"She signed a contract," Luca says. "She knew there were rules."

"Rules you didn’t explain," I shoot back. "You gave her ‘don’t go west wing’ and ‘don’t sleep with us’ and called it a day."

Luca’s jaw ticks. He hates when I talk back. He hates it more when I’m right.

"Fine," he says. "New rules. Real ones."

He pulls out a paper. His handwriting. Neat. Terrifying.

"Rule 1: You don’t leave the property without telling me or Marco."

Aria frowns. "Why Marco?"

"Because he volunteered," I say before Luca can. Because someone needs to make sure she’s safe and Luca’s too busy running an empire to do it.

"Rule 2: You don’t speak to Victoria. Ever. If she talks to you, you walk away. Rule 3: West wing is still off limits. Rule 4: You don’t ask questions about our business. Rule 5: You don’t get involved in family matters."

Aria reads the list. Her fingers don’t shake.

"That’s it?" she asks.

"That’s it," Luca says. "Break one, you’re gone. No second chances."

She nods. "Okay."

I’m watching her. She’s scared. I can see it in the way she holds her shoulders. But she’s not showing it. God, she’s stubborn.

"Good," Luca says. "You’re dismissed."

She stands. She’s about to leave when I say, "Wait."

Luca stops. "What?"

"I’m walking her."

"No, you’re not."

"Yes, I am." I push off the wall. "Someone needs to make sure Victoria’s goons aren’t waiting in the hall."

"There are no goons," Luca says.

"There will be by tonight," I say. "Let me."

We stare at each other. Oldest brother vs middle brother. He wins 90% of the time.

Today he doesn’t. He nods once. "Fine. 10 minutes. Then you have calls."

The hall is empty when we walk out.

For a while neither of us talks.

I can smell her. Soap and something else. Fear, maybe.

"You okay?" I ask.

"I’m fine."

"You don’t look fine."

"I’m tired."

I stop her. Right in the middle of the hall.

"Listen," I say. "Luca’s rules are bullshit. Not all of them. But most. He’s trying to protect you by keeping you small."

"I don’t want to be small."

"I know."

The words slip out before I can stop them.

That’s why you’re dangerous.

"What does that mean?" she asks.

"It means you don’t bow," I say. "And we’re not used to that."

Footsteps.

Nico.

He looks between us. "Everything okay?"

"Fine," I say. Too fast.

Nico nods. "Luca wants you in the kitchen, Aria. Dinner prep."

"Okay."

Nico leaves.

I exhale. "Go. Before I say something else stupid."

"What kind of stupid?" she asks.

"Stupid like ‘you should stay in my room tonight so you’re safe’."

I walk away before she can answer. Because if she says yes, I’m screwed. If she says no, I’m worse.

Dinner is hell.

20 people. Business associates. Fake smiles. Real guns under jackets.

I’m supposed to be schmoozing. Instead I’m watching Aria serve wine.

She’s good at it. Head down. Quiet. Efficient.

Until Victoria shows up.

Of course she does.

She’s at the bar, talking to De Luca. When she sees Aria, her smile goes sharp.

I move before I think.

"Problem?" I ask. To Aria, but my eyes are on Victoria.

"No problem," Aria says.

"Good," I say. "Victoria, you’re not on the guest list."

"I was invited," she says.

"By who?"

"Does it matter?"

I step between them. "Yes. It matters. Now leave."

"You can’t tell me—"

"I just did."

She laughs. "This is pathetic."

She walks out.

I turn to Aria. "You followed the rules."

"Did I?"

"You didn’t talk to her. You didn’t look at her. You walked away."

"I wanted to throw the wine on her."

"I know," I say, and I’m smiling before I can stop myself. "That’s why I’m proud of you."

Proud.

Shit.

When did I start being proud of her?

"Go finish serving," I say. "I’ll handle the rest."

At 1am I’m in the kitchen. I can’t sleep.

I make tea. Chamomile. Stupid.

I knock on her door.

She opens it. Hair down. No makeup. She looks 19.

"Tea," I say. "You looked like you needed it."

"I’m fine."

"You’re lying." I come in anyway. Set the mug down. "Look, about what I said earlier—"

"Don’t," she says. "Don’t make it weird."

"It’s already weird," I say. "You’re in my house. You’re under my brother’s protection. And I can’t stop thinking about the way you looked at Victoria."

"How did I look?"

"Like you weren’t scared."

We’re too close. I can see the flecks in her eyes.

"You should go," she says.

"Yeah," I say. But I don’t move. "Aria."

"What?"

"Stay out of the west wing."

"I will."

"And stay out of my head."

I leave before I kiss her.

Back in my room I pour a drink. I don’t drink it.

My phone buzzes. Luca.

_She’s a liability._

I don’t answer.

Another buzz. Unknown number.

_You like her. That’s cute. -V_

I delete it.

I sit in the dark and think about Aria in that chair this morning. Back straight. Eyes up.

She didn’t bow.

And now I can’t stop thinking about what it would cost to make her.

God help me before I lose it.