Page 24 of Daddies of the Underworld

“Because it’s too beautiful.” I curled my fingers around the railing and stared straight ahead. “And I’ve learned that dreams always fade. Beautiful things never last.” For a moment, I regretted saying it. Then, Matteo lifted his hand and touched one finger to my cheek in a barely there contact that stole my breath.

A ripple moved through the crowd behind us, a change in the very air that turned it thick and crackling with a nervous energy.

Matteo’s hand dropped. Dante powered through the crowd, coming straight for us. Luca appeared at my side, coming from some obscure hallway.

A man walked along the center of the terrace as if the entire gala had been arranged just for him. He was tall, older than Matteo, and elegant in a black tuxedo that made most of the men around him look like they were playing dress-up. His silver hair was styled in a sleek sweep that accentuated sharp cheekbones and eyes so pale they almost seemed colorless.

“Ladies and gentlemen, Viktor Orlov has arrived.” Luca whispered under his breath, his sardonic nature evident in every syllable.

The name meant nothing to me, but the way he said it warned me of the approaching danger.

Matteo stepped away from the railing, putting his body half in front of mine. Dante closed in from the left, Luca already on my right. A wall of muscle and protective energy surrounded me.

Viktor’s gaze moved over them, then landed on me. “Moretti.” His Italian carried that same flattened edge I’d heard in the corridor. Not the same voice, but the same inflection.

“Orlov.” Matteo’s tone gave nothing away except perhaps boredom.

Viktor smiled wide enough his canines flashed. “A magnificent evening. One would almost forget the unpleasantness earlier this week.”

“No one has forgotten.” Matteo continued with the bored tone, not a single muscle in his body giving away any sense of tension.

“Good.” Viktor’s smile did not change as he approached. “Memory is useful. Fear, even more so.” His pale eyes slid over me again and then to Matteo. “Your summit entertains me. A collection of powerful men pretending at ambition.”

“You forgot successful.” Luca picked at his nails, flicking away invisible dirt.

Viktor took one more step before he stopped, leaving perhaps three feet between him and Matteo. “Empires do not often fall because enemies break through the gate. They fall because someone on the inside grows tired of holding them closed.”

My heart thumped at the message implying someone was working this from the inside. Was that what he meant, or did this have some other underlying meaning?

“If you have an accusation, make it and be on your way.” Matteo remained unaffected based on his voice.

I didn’t know him well enough to understand if that was true.

“No accusation.” Viktor lifted one hand, palm outward. “Advice. I am known for my kindness, yes?” He didn’t wait for a response but locked eyes with me. “Good afternoon, Miss Russo.”

I couldn’t have gone more still if he’d put a gun to my head. “Have we met?”

“No, my dear. I simply make it my job to know everything. I hope you enjoy your evening.” He started to turn, then looked back at Matteo, his eyes cold as ice. “Your authority is weakening, Matteo. You cannot hold Europe forever. Those who are against you grow stronger every day while you play house in your villa and have your parties.” He sauntered away.

Dante’s fists curled so tight I worried his knuckles would break through the skin.

Luca muttered several unflattering things under his breath, many of them too low for me to hear, but his scowl gave him away.

“Those were threats, right? He was letting you know that he knew who I was, he knew my name, and he implied that someone on the inside is out to get me.” My pulse hammered so hard I could barely think, much less talk.

Luca stopped cursing long enough to take my hand and lace our fingers together. “Yes.”

Well, there went the fairytale.

8

DANTE

I left Nina between Matteo and Luca and went straight for the security room as soon as I could get away without Viktor knowing he’d put me in motion.

Matteo gave me a nod over Nina’s shoulder even though I didn’t need his permission.

His hand rested on the small of her back, and Luca bent to whisper into her ear.