Without even turning around to face me, his deep voice cuts through the quiet room. "Like what you see?"
I roll my eyes, though the smile on my lips only widens. "Don't flatter yourself."
He turns around with a brilliant, rare grin that completely changes his hard features, walking back over to the bed and climbing right in over the sheets. He leans down, capturing my lips in a long, slow kiss that tastes faintly of mint and coffee.
When he finally pulls away, his eyes are serious but warm. "I have to meet with Valerio. We couldn’t find Luca yesterday, so we must continue the search today. I need to handle this."
I nod against the pillow, understanding the stakes perfectly. "I know. Okay."
He cups my cheek, his thumb brushing over my skin. "Call me if you need me. Call me anytime. Okay? I don't care what I'm doing, you call my phone."
My heart does a little flip at the sheer protectiveness in his voice. I smile softly. "Okay."
Alessandro leans down to kiss me again, his lips lingering on mine until the kiss starts to deepen, turning heavy with sudden desire. Knowing he has a war to fight, I reluctantly press my hands against his chest, trying to push him out of the bed.
The movement causes the duvet to slide down, and his eyes instantly darken as he realizes I’m completely nakedunderneath. He lets out a low, ragged groan. "Now you've done it. I don't want to leave."
I laugh out loud, wrapping the sheet tightly around myself as I physically scramble out of bed and guide him toward the bedroom doors, ignoring his protests. "Go save the empire, Alessandro. I'll be right here."
I push him out into the hallway, shutting the door against his deep chuckle, my chest bursting with a warmth I never thought I'd find in this world.
My stomach lets out an aggressive rumble, reminding me that love doesn't actually feed you. Smiling to myself, I pad over to the bathroom, step into a hot shower, and brush my teeth. Once I'm done, I pick out a light, breezy sundress that makes me feel like a princess.
I’m just about to grab my purse and leave the bedroom when my phone beeps on the nightstand. I reach for it, seeing a text flash across the screen. It’s from my sister, Camilla.
Hey, I'm at our favorite coffee place down the street! Come meet me for coffee? I'm already here waiting.
Oh, great. An opportunity to see my sister again so soon? I’ll absolutely take it.
Before I head out, I decide to let Alessandro know. I walk down the hall to his office and find him sitting behind his desk. He'salone, but his face looks intensely focused, his brows furrowed over a mountain of paperwork.
"Sorry to bother you," I say softly, leaning against the doorframe.
Alessandro looks up, the cold tension instantly melting from his features the moment he sees me. "You can never bother me, Sienna. What's up?"
I walk over and explain the text from Camilla, but Alessandro's expression shifts into something more guarded.
"Why doesn't Camilla just come over to our place instead?" he asks, his protective instincts kicking in. "It's safer here."
I nod, understanding his concern. "That makes sense. I’ll just call her and tell her to come over."
I pull out my phone and dial Camilla's number right there in front of him. It rings all the way to voicemail. I frown, hanging up and trying a second time. Still nothing. I call her a few more times, but Camilla isn't picking up her phone at all, even though she just texted me a minute ago.
I lower the phone. "She’s not picking up."
Alessandro’s eyes narrow, his instincts immediately going on high alert. He stands up from his desk, the relaxed warmth from earlier completely gone.
"Listen,dolcezza. Luca hasn’t been caught yet. The city isn't safe, and you two staying outside at a public coffee shop is out of the question." He rounds the desk, his voice firm. "My men can go pick up your sister and bring her back here to the estate where it’s safe. I'll feel a hell of a lot better knowing you're both behind our gates."
I chew on my lip, hating the idea of just sitting around while Camilla is out there. "Can I go with your men? I promise I'll wait for them in the car. If she sees the car or sees me through the window, she’ll come right out."
Alessandro looks at me, calculating the risks, his jaw tight. For a second, I think he’s going to give me a flat, definitiveno. But seeing the stubborn determination in my eyes, he lets out a heavy breath and reluctantly agrees.
"Fine," he says, grabbing me by the shoulders and looking dead into my eyes. "But you do not step a single foot out of that vehicle. Am I clear? You stay locked inside."
"I promise," I say automatically, nodding. "I won't leave the car."
Alessandro doesn't take any chances. He immediately assigns three of his most trusted, heavily armed men to guard me. He gives them strict orders before we even step out the front door.
