“I prefer to call it Italian-level passionate.” He took the wrapper from my hand, scrunching it in his fist, and swapped it for a bag of desserts while I stood speechless.
He released the emergency button, and the elevator started moving again. Lifting his thumb to my mouth, he wiped away a bit of cheese I had missed, and my cheeks flamed with mortification. My eyes tracked his thumb back to his mouth, and he sucked it clean, reigniting that desire in my lower belly.
“Buona notte, la mia bella ribelle,” he husked before the doors opened. I stared at him as he shoved his helmet back over his head, unable to believe that was it. Wasn’t he going to seduce me again? Kidnap me? Kill me? Anything? He literally fed me and turned, strolling straight past Damiano when the doors opened.
My overbearing babysitter stormed into the lift. “Aria. My apologies. I was distracted and—”
“It’s fine,” I said, realising he had blamed himself entirely and not seen it as my own devious little scheme to get away from him.
“What happened? I thought the elevator had stopped working. I’d called for backup.”
“No. There was no need. I got out,” I swallowed, pushing away from the wall and walking towards my office. “I just grabbed some food.”
He nodded, still looking tense and unsure, but I didn’t elaborate. Why? Why the hell couldn’t I tell him that the man my father warned me about is genuinelyan actual threat?
Because you’ll sound ridiculous, Aria. He sends you flowers. Dry-humps you against walls because you don’t stop him. You bit him, and he tattooed it on his skin! And then he corners you in lifts with your favourite food.
He’s not exactly committing any crimes. Being completely unhinged, yeah. But was I actually in any danger? I wasn’t sure.
When I made it back to my office, I rested my head on my desk, groaning.No, stop this. It’s all an act. He’s manipulating me into believing he might be more than just violence and crime. He’s trying to make me trust him. Like him, even. And then he’ll switch, and I’ll be tied to a chair, gagged and begging for my life—all because I fell for a piadina delivery.
I’d watched enough crime documentaries to recognise the pattern of impending doom. I wouldn’t be the naïve, helpless girl who falls for the lies. His behaviour would only escalate. But I didn’t have the first idea how to stop it. Perhaps it was time to come clean and repent for my sins. Or Santino Buccini would drag me to hell with him.
Acts of Service
“Papi?” I called out, shaking off my coat and hanging it on the polished oak rack in the foyer. When I was met with only silence, I sauntered along the corridor, checking the living room, the kitchen, and finally slowing when I heard deep Italian voices from behind his office door.
“No! I will not stand for it. I want to know who is responsible for this mess. This has cost us our only leverage! Who the hell authorised Simone’s protection to be moved to Naples when he was in a perfectly secure safe house here in Rome? Get his lawyer on the line. Now.”
I hesitated, lowering my hand from knocking on the door. It took a lot for mypapito lose his temper like that, so this must have been serious. Instead of making the sensible choice to leave and come back later, I pressed myself against the door, listening in.
A calmer voice tried to reason with him. “As I’ve said, Mayor Caruso, I’ve already spoken to his lawyer. He claimed that the case had to be reassigned to a judge in Naples, who demanded that Simone be placed under witness protection in their city. It was meant to be an extra layer of safety.”
A dark laugh echoed through the room from a third man. “Safety? Is that why our only reliable witness is lying in a coma at a Naples hospital?”
I shifted just enough to peer through the narrow crack in the door to see the side profile of Callum. He was glaring at the police commissioner, who was sitting stiffly beside him. My father was standing behind his desk with one hand on his hip, the other scrubbing frustrated circles around his jaw. All three men looked as if they’d aged ten years in the last few minutes.
“Naples authorities are investigating the crash,” the commissioner continued. “They’ll determine if foul play was involved or if it was merely a terrible accident. But since it happened outside our jurisdiction, there is nothing my office can—”
My father scoffed. “Of course, there was foul play! This whole thing was orchestrated, can’t you see? I bet it was the lawyer. Somehow, they got to him and forced him to request that the case be reassigned to Naples, giving them awindow to strike. As soon as Simone crossed into another city, they knew we’d lose control.”
“Mayor Caruso, Simone’s lawyer’s identity was known only by me, Simone, Judge Rindilio, and your office. It’s doubtful that anyone could have found that information in such a short time. Unless there is substantial evidence linkingSignorBuccini to this—”
“We just lost our only evidence!” my father roared, slamming his fist on his desk. I leapt back from the door at his sudden rage because I’d rarely ever seen him this upset. He was normally so composed.
Simone… witness… Buccinis. My mind scrambled to piece it together. Simone must have been the crucial witness willing to testify against the Buccinis about the shipment raids.
The commissioner rose from his chair, his face tight. “I understand your frustration, Mayor Caruso. I’ll keep you informed on the investigation into the crash from Naples.”
Sensing I was about to be caught eavesdropping, I hurried to the dining room and ducked inside until I heard heavy footsteps pass by.I had come here with every intention of confessing everything that had happened between me and Santino Buccini over the past week (well, most of it), but clearly, the universe had decided today was not the day for revealing my darkest sins.
The office door burst open, and both men strode out, forcing me back into the dining room like a naughty child hiding past her bedtime.
Just walk out there and behave normally, Aria.
“Don’t stress,” Callum murmured as they walked down the corridor. “Let’s focus on what we can control. Putting pressure where it matters. Once the injunction is approved, we can freeze their accounts.”
“I am stressed. You said this would be enough. I went public and put my own and my daughter’s life at risk for this, and he’s still walking free. Until Santino Buccini is dealt with, my daughter isn’t safe. You promised me nothing would happen to her.”
