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PROLOGUE
ALESSANDRO
SICILY
The past two years have been bittersweet because they have been the worst of my life and the best.
Now it’s all set to change because the best part of my life will be sacrificed for the one thing I want more than anything. To save Winter and bring her back to us.
I would say, back to me, but we never really got started. One night only was all we had, but it was a night that changed my life.
They say love can’t happen like a bolt of lightning. Lust maybe, but never love. I disagree. I love Winter with all my heart because I’ve never got over losing her and I can’t even bear to look at women with similar features. I only employ blondes because they are nothing like my dark, exotic beauty.
I crave any mention of her, and I can’t sleep at night worrying about whose arms she lies in. It’s the ultimate torture but I’m getting used to it. It’s woven into the fabric of my life, making me wear the pain. The only antidote to that was I got to live my dream.
I was set free from a life of madness to step into a different one. Strings were pulled on my behalf, and I found myself directing a movie that won an Oscar fresh off the starting line. I was up and coming and one to watch, and the past two years have been hard in many ways. I rarely sleep and I work too hard to drive away the images of the girl I loved and lost so cruelly.
We have tried so hard to bring her back to us. The plan was shaping up nicely and our positions of power are almost complete. Then Flynn learned our enemy has a daughter, and it changed everything. We thought we had won. We had the golden goose and then Massimo changed the game overnight.
“Buonasera, signor Majerio.”
“Buonasera, Tommaso.”
I move past the respectful soldier who stands aside to let me pass and let the familiar settle around me like a well-worn cloak.
My grandfather’s home. The head office of his Sicilian empire that my own father didn’t think he could take on. He fled to Boston and started his own branch of our family, but my grandfather always had me marked as his heir apparent. I was told I reminded him of himself, and he wanted me to leave Rockwell and begin my training. I resisted, and it takes a very foolish person to go against my grandfather, but as it happened, he was feeling generous that day. I was given a respite on the understanding I would take over as the head of this family when he died or was unable to command. I enjoyed two years of freedom, but that has all changed now.
I’m here to take my place by his side for only one reason. To bring Winter home.
The plan was to use my grandfather’s connections to back us up and give us a formidable army behind us. It was meant to take place here in Sicily, but Massimo has changed all that and blocked our move.
Now I must convince my grandfather that I know what I’m doing if we are to stand any chance of pulling this off and so as I head into the den where he enjoys a pre-dinner cigar, I set my attitude to bastard.
“Alessandro.”
His voice reaches me through the haze of smoke, and I smile when I hear the husky tones of a man who always appears as if he knows everything. I think he does, and my heart quickens when he points to the leather wing-backed chair opposite him and offers me a cigar.
“Brandy and cigars. My guilty pleasure above many others.”
His gruff laughter makes me smile and, as I light the tip and take a drag of the pungent smoke, I settle into my role.
Handing me a glass of brandy, he raises his glass to mine. “So, we celebrate.”
“We have something to celebrate?”
He laughs softly. “You tell me.”
“We will celebrate when Massimo Delauren is dead, Nonno.”
“Ah, your greatest enemy.”
He puffs on his cigar, appearing in a thoughtful mood, and I wait for him to speak.
“Ma-ss-im-o.” He drags out every syllable of his name and I swear every single one of them grates on my nerves.
“He has been tolerated for far too long.”
“So, you’ll help us.”
