His chuckle becomes a deep laugh that sends a swarm of butterflies rioting in the depths of my stomach, and I forcibly tear my eyes away from him to toss the contents of my bag back inside.
“I’m not actually from around here. And for what it’s worth…” He trails off to pinch my chin between his thumb and index finger, lifting my gaze to his. “You don’t strike me as the damsel-in-distress type.”
My lips lift in a smile, grateful that he’s brushing my silly dramatics under the rug.
“You’re not wrong, Rafe. Given the choice, I’d much prefer to slay my own dragons.”
His eyes narrow as indecision flickers across his face, gone as quickly as it appeared, before he reaches across to brush his thumb across my bottom lip. The move is entirely too intimate, and I revel in it when my heart slams against my rib cage, his eyes dropping down to follow the motion.
“Have dinner with me, Elodie.” The request is murmured as his eyes shift back up to mine, and he blinks slowly, the whole world fading into oblivion around us. “Tell me more about these dragons you wish to slay.”
CHAPTER 3
RAFAEL
I hadn’t plannedon approaching her. I had intended to keep my distance and let Emiliano do the dirty work.
Following the attempt on my life the day I’d accompanied Sebastiano back to Andros-Baumann, his boarding school in Zurich, the week after Papa’s funeral, Emiliano wasn’t taking any chances.
So, I’ve been stuck in Sicily for almost six months. Restructuringla Famigliahas taken time now that I’ve shut down our operations in the US, but it was the right thing to do considering the proximity to Conti. The chance of an all-out war between our families grows every day.
In the days following Maria’s confirmation, Conti had reached out, and the arrogant cunt was unmoving on what he wanted in exchange for Aurelia. The only thing Icouldn’tgive to him.
Myself.
Six long fucking months of trying to achieve the unachievable. To get my sister back where she belongs.
No matter how many hands I greased, or how many favors I called in, Aurelia couldn’t be located, and Conti had gone underground too.
The goal had felt unreachable.
Until now. Until her.
But I wasstrictlyalong for the ride. No one outside of my most trusted soldiers was even aware I’d left Sicily.
A day trip. A quick in and out. Job done.
Then, when I laid eyes on her, I couldn’t see anything other than her.
And when those men had approached, she’d looked so completely vulnerable. I’d been unable to keep away.
I catch Emiliano’s eye from his place at a nearby table and shrug imperceptibly when he stabs me with an annoyed look before I zone in on my menu.
“Everything smells so good here.”
I lift my eyes from the menu in my hands to find the object of my thoughts leaning across the table, her long blonde hair cascading down either side of her oval face and her big navy-blue eyes trained on me.
Suddenly, her stomach growls, and her cheeks flush prettily. I can’t suppress the smile that wreathes my face as she slaps her palms over hers, mumbling behind them.
“Oh my God, I’m so embarrassed.”
“To be expected.” I quirk an entertained eyebrow when she snorts a laugh from behind her hands. “Youdidskip lunch, after all, Elodie.”
My chuckle is indulgent as my eyes rake over her greedily, taking in everything from the color of her silky hair to the creaminess of her unblemished skin next to the deep blue of her summer dress until the waiter stops at our table.
“Posso prendere il suo ordine, signore?”
Elodie drops her hands onto the table, the flush on her cheeks staining the pale skin of her chest as she catches my eye.
