Mag-log inFor the next five minutes, the only sound was that of Luca vigorously striking keys. Then he muttered a quick, "Yes!" and smiled. He turned the screen so that Massimo could better see it."We're in," Luca reported. "Only temporarily, of course—we've got fifteen minutes maximum."Massimo scanned the
"You know what," Massimo said into his cell phone, forcing his tone to stay casual. "You should clean up your place before you go anywhere.""I suppose I could be more thorough," Luca replied. "I don't like how much dust gets caught on the window's curtains.""Better to take care of that before alle
Massimo heard a car approach. He rushed to the windows, hoping that Elena had called a cab.But he didn't see a cab. Instead, he saw a nondescript black van pull up next to a nearby telephone pole. Massimo frowned.It didn't have any of the usual signage, but Massimo could recognize a repurposed FBI
Elena was so frustrated. Because this was the problem, wasn't it? How was she supposed to trust Massimo when he had been lying and sneaking around behind her back?Wasn't that just what her parents used to do? Wasn't Tyler using similarly ridiculous schemes—albeit with more force—to get her at his s
Elena tried to change directions but found herself at a dead end. Worst of all, the aisles were too cramped for her to slip by her step-mother. There was no way to avoid the woman."Are you ready to leave?"Elena hadn't been ready to hear that deep, steady voice again, but between Massimo and her st
Massimo stared at the fuel gauge, as if that would change the fact that the motorcycle didn't have much gas left. At least the damn thing beeped before it was completely empty—getting stranded on a deserted street with no easy way home truly would be the worst way to end this evening-into-morning ad
So Elena smiled back.With all the excitement, she had almost forgotten the mafia don in the room. "Elena," Massimo stated, voice ice cold, "do you actually know these people?"Elena knew that tone. It was the tone of the Mafia King, deciding whether someone's story checked out. Deciding whether to
The rest of breakfast finished up in relative silence. Elena stretched, trying to dispel her negative thoughts."We should call the date here," she suggested. "I want to go see how my half-brother is doing in the hospital.""I can drop you off there," Max offered."That would be a little hard with m
Massimo spared a glance at Elena before striding up to the front door. Elena shot her mother a sympathetic smile. To her relief, Sloane followed as Elena approached the door."I'll be in my office if you need me," Massimo stated simply. Without another word, he walked off.It was just Elena and her
Elena sat there for a moment, shocked for what felt like the hundredth time that day. She was speechless that the mysterious caller could be Noah—as well as the immediate hostility Massimo spoke with. The mystery caller hadn't spoken much and Noah hadn't said much during their meal either.Was he ju







