◇ MYKAELA ◇ The deafening silence only thrust more negativity into my thoughts as the minutes stretched between my slow, controlled intakes of breath. What just happened? I wasn't sure why he didn't want to talk. Or look at me. Did I do or say something wrong? Did I upset him? Because this wasn't part of the plan? Or was it because I didn't say no or try anything to stop him? My insides somewhat burned after every breath I silenced with effort. I stayed put on the left side of his bed, my hands clammy, my backside growing warmer on his soft pillow. Enzo sat on the other side, completely still. Also naked. Merely inches away from me. Scowling. Fairly distraught. He stared at something on the floor. The padded covers hid his crotch and nearly both of his bare, muscular legs. What now? Was he waiting for me to start a conversation? Explain myself? Crap. I should bolt. This was not the way I imagined this night would end. Not while I was in his embrace and he was kissing

• Florence, Italy • ◆ LORENZIO ◆ "Nah. You'll still see me 'round once in a while. And if you need anything, just email me." "Sì, sappiamo. Ma ci mancherete molto, capo." [Yeah, we know. But we'll miss you a lot, boss.] "I'll tell Raffaele to make this a thing, and pay you more." I faked a grin for Davide, one of our pharmacy chain's oldest branch managers, aware that our new pharmacists were all eyes on us from their dining tables. Davide laughed with his tubby hand on his beer belly. "Così va meglio." [That sounds better.] "I know." We did a quick toast with our wine glasses. The clinking noises made me squint as I put on another chuffed smile. That ibuprofen pill was no match for this bloody jet lag. "See you soon." Grinning from ear-to-ear, Davide nodded and raised his glass. "Happy birthday! Enjoy New York." "Thanks." I turned around, the midday sun warming up the rest of my face and neck, forcing me to step away from the windows. Holding my empty glass, I headed towards t

• Months earlier •◆ LORENZIO ◆ "Now what?" I leaned forward and stared at the Falco heirs, feigning a poker face to mask the days-old panic, guilt, and profound regrets that kept me tossing and turning in bed until dawn. Ricchar, like Maximiliano, didn't look eager to sift through the evidence. The look in their scrutinizing eyes bordered on judgmental, even. Doubtful. Most likely they doubted my account of what happened. Their partly confused, sometimes nonchalant reactions to the photos could be due to distrust. Of me. Of my family. But I already saw this coming. "You tell me." Ricchar tilted his stubbled chin. The chandelier above his desk highlighted the curls in his hair and his curious stare. "I... Tell you what?""Let's cut the shit. Yeah? When you decided to come here, did you expect a certain reaction?"Bollocks. Why did it matter? Of course I expected them to react a certain way. Not just squint or stare at me as if they were merely watching me weave an elaborate web of

◆ MAXIMILIANO ◆ Blood. Too much blood. It smelled like her; it could only be hers. No one else would have bled that much under the covers. I unlocked my phone screen. No texts. No calls from her. Nothing. Shit. If she actually left without telling me anything, and she left right after those Carabinieri guys showed up, then that chick was definitely up to something. "Adreana?" My voice echoed across the hallway as I dashed past the door to the guest room. The bathroom closest to the kitchen was also empty, like the room we slept in. Right now she could be anywhere outside those gates. Or hiding somewhere in this house. But why would she hide? What other secrets did she have to hide? Or someone could have told her that the police were outside. "Adreana?" I ran out of the hall as calmly as I could, my heart closer to collapsing by the second. This stupid hide-and-seek just felt like the longest five minutes of my life. The dining room looked empty. Like the rest of the rooms on th

◆ MAXIMILIANO ◆ It wasn't a lie. That night at the hotel had been eventful, to put it mildly. Despite some awkwardness at first, we forgot everything about precautions. I asked her if she was taking the pill, and when she said yes, I didn't hold back. She didn't complain or anything. Before I left her alone in that hotel room, I tried to impress her again. Our second time was on the loveseat. Still without any protection.Yet she didn't complain. Not once. Adreana even kissed me goodbye and thanked me. Maybe it was just the way she is. Maybe she thanked me for not treating her like a hired escort. Either way, it felt real.Our late-night chats. The flirty messages all week. The unexpected "goodnight" texts she sent before I went to bed. None of it felt forced or acted out. "Sorry. I..." she murmured with a quick sigh, her lush hair poorly covering her nude body. Every inch of her looked flawless it should be a crime. "I didn't intentionally forget to take it." "Right." Of course