His Trophy, His War—Hers NowIl Giardino’s patio glittered under string lights as Livia poured wine into crystal glasses, her movements confident, unhurried. Six months ago, she’d been a hostage in a concrete room; tonight, she was the host of her own restaurant, its linen white, its tables full of laughter, its kitchen humming with the scents of rosemary and garlic.Alessandro watched from the doorway, his suit crisp, his gun long buried in a safe he never opened. He’d traded violence for balance sheets, enemies for employees. The shipping business operated within the law now, its routes transparent, its profits clean.“You’ve outdone yourself,” he murmured, stepping behind her, his hands settling on her waist.She leaned into him, the silk of her black dress catching the light. “This place breathes. It’s alive.”“Like you.”She turned in his arms, her green eyes catching the glow of the lanterns. “Do you ever miss it? The power? The fear?”He brushed a strand of auburn hair from her
Last Updated : 2025-12-24 Read more