Chapter 5

The rest of dinner passed in a strained conversation. When it finally ended, I felt like I'd been holding my breath for hours.

"I need some air," I told Leo as the others dispersed.

He hesitated. "I have some business to discuss with my father. Don't go far."

I wandered until I found a stone bench near a small fountain, collapsing onto it with shaking legs. The cool night air helped clear my head as I processed everything I'd witnessed.

"Rough first night with the family?"

I startled at the voice, turning to find a man watching me from the shadows. Tall, with sandy hair and an easy smile, he didn't look like the Costello security I'd seen earlier. He looked soft and nice.

"Who are you?" I asked, still feeling tense as I didn't trust a soul to be here alone.

"Ryan." He stepped forward, hands in his pockets. "I work for the family. Security consultant."

Something about him seemed different with the Costello operation—too casual, too approachable.

"I didn't know Leo allowed his staff to wander the private gardens," I said carefully.

Ryan grinned. "Leo doesn't 'allow' me much of anything. I report directly to the Don."

"Oh." I relaxed slightly. "So you're not one of my watchdogs."

"Is that what they feel like?" He sat beside me, keeping a respectful distance. "The guys Leo assigned to you?"

"What else would you call men who follow my every move?"

"Protection." Ryan looked up at the stars. "This world you've stepped into—it's more dangerous than you realize."

"I'm beginning to understand that." I studied his profile. "What did Valentina mean about their mother?"

Ryan's expression grew serious. "That's not my story to tell. But I will say this—being married to a Costello means always watching your back, even inside the family."

"Especially inside the family, it seems."

He laughed, a warm sound in the cool night. "Smart woman. No wonder Leo's so taken with you."

Before I could respond, a sharp voice cut through the night.

"Alessia."

Leo stood at the garden entrance, his expression thunderous as he took in the scene before him. He stalked toward us, radiating cold fury.

"I've been looking everywhere for you," he said, eyes fixed on Ryan. "I see you've met our security consultant."

"We were just getting acquainted," Ryan said easily, though I noticed he took a step back.

Leo turned to me, ignoring Ryan like he never existed.. "I told you not to go far."

"This is still on the property," I pointed out. "And you said you had business with your father."

"Business that ended quickly when I couldn't find my fiancée." His jaw clenched. "Why are you talking to him, if you're going to be my wife then you should start acting like one?" He seethed and I'm sure Ryan heard that which made me embarrassed.

“Of Course I'm acting like one Leo, my time needs to be spent with quality people and Ryan has been one of the most interesting persons I just met.” He cocked his head and scoffed instead as he enclosed the space between us with a little step. “I don't think so, he seems entirely too interested in you and my father's security should know better!"

I crossed my arms and shook my head. "Is that jealousy I detect, Leo? In our 'romantic arrangement'?"

His eyes darkened. "Call it whatever you want but don't go around talking to strangers ever again and Ryan Lynch is fucking off-limits to you."

"You don't own me," I snapped, weeks of fear and frustration boiling over. "Contract or no contract!" I yelled and In one swift movement, his lips claimed mine. The kiss wasn't gentle—it was possessive and demanding, igniting something deep within me that I didn't want to acknowledge. Ryan definitely walked away and I felt pity for the poor boy. My hands came up to push him away but somehow ended up gripping his shirt, pulling him closer as the kiss deepened.

He cursed, squeezing the swell of my breasts and I stupidly moaned in his lips. I pushed him away instantly and turned as I felt too embarrassed, we were both breathing hard. Something had shifted between us—something dangerous and electric in a space of seconds.

"That wasn't in the contract," I whispered, hating the tremor in my voice.

"Some things don't need to be written down." His thumb traced my lower lip. "Consider it as clause 99: you're mine now, Alessia. The sooner you accept that, the easier this will be."