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“It can be challenging having apakhanfor a brother, but I wouldn’t trade him for anything. He’s the closest family I have, aside from my mom, and honestly, he cares a lot more about my safety and my future than she ever has. Most of the time, I feel like I’m more like a free meal ticket to her–her expenses are paid for life because my dad knocked her up once but didn’t want to marry her.”
I wave off my statement, realizing it sounds far more bitter than I really feel toward my mom. I don’t resent herthatmuch. We just aren’t that close.
Ilya is the one I turn to for everything in life–support, affection, and encouragement. Even if we butt heads, he’s the one person who really loves me for me. “Don’t worry about Ilya. He just needs to blow off steam. We’ll be fine in a few days.”
Cassio nods solemnly, his eyes turning intense and thoughtful. It’s a new look–one I’ve never seen him wear before–and somehow, it makes him look older, beyond his years. I hadn’t ever realized before that the laughter in his eyes was such a distinguishing feature.
But as his proud lips soften into a straight line and his dark, well-shaped eyebrows furrow, I’m struck by how Italian his features really are–the Roman nose, the strong cheekbones, the refined jawline. Dear god, he’s gorgeous.
“I know how hard family can sometimes be,” he confesses, his tone low. “A less-than-present mother, a family business that impacts you whether you want to be a part of it or not.” His lips twist into an ironic grin. “I can’t tell you how many times Lucca and I have talked about leaving home, finding our own path in life–one where we’re not tied to our family name or the bloody lifestyle it’s all but synonymous with.”
His eyes meet mine with a burning intensity that makes my heart flutter.
“But I think things will get better when my brother takes over. Nicolo’s different from our father–hell, he can still be a dick and all, but I know he’ll make a good don. He’ll let us put good out into the world, and when it comes down to it, Lucca and I will be able to do a lot more to make the world right if we have family money backing us than if we don’t.”
He shrugs as if realizing he got too intense, too real, and he takes a sip of his wine.
But I find myself captivated, breathless, with this different side to him. I’ve always adored Lucca and Cassio’s sense of humor, but I hadn’t realized that Cassio has so much depth before. And his convictions are both heartfelt and incredibly compassionate.
He’s surprisingly mature and perceptive for someone so classically known for pulling pranks and goofing off. I’m suddenly and intensely intrigued by how his mind works.
“I think it’s pretty special that you want to make a difference in the world,” I whisper. “Not many people our age and from our backgrounds really think about that kind of stuff.”
I can’t help myself as I lean closer, forcing him to meet my eyes once more. The fact that he seems self-conscious about opening up about his aspirations only makes them seem that much more sincere–like they’re coming from the very depths of his soul, a dream he hasn’t dared reveal to anyone but his twin brother.
Cassio’s hazel eyes meet mine, and warmth pools in my belly as he studies me closely. The temperature of the room seems to spike as my skin lights on fire, and then Cassio’s eyes glance down toward my lips. My stomach flip-flops, and my tongue darts out to wet my dry lips.
His eyes find mine again, that dark freckle seeming to stand out in a sudden sea of green before vanishing into black. He shifts closer, his shoulders turning so he’s almost hovering above me, and I don’t dare breathe for fear that I might shatter this moment.
“I really want to kiss you, Bianka,” Cassio murmurs, his gaze shifting down to my lips once again before returning to my eyes. “May I?”
I nod, my head rustling against the couch’s fabric, but I’m too afraid to speak. I don’t trust my voice. He closes the distance slowly, the scent of his cologne wrapping around me, and I breathe deeply as my eyelids sink closed.
The soft press of his lips finding mine sends an almost electric shock of anticipation through my body, making my heart race. The warmth of his skin pressed to mine makes me tingle, and all I can think about is how deeply I crave more.
He pulls away all too soon, and it takes all my self-control to not follow him. The kiss was sweet but somehow intensely passionate, and I’m shocked by how much I like him. He sets his wine glass down on the coffee table, and as he does, I’m surprised to see how far along we are in the movie. I hadn’t realized we’d been talking so much, but now that we’ve stopped, I desperately want to do more.
Cassio settles back onto the couch, his arm that had been resting along the back draping across my shoulders as he pulls me close, and I melt into him. Tucking snugly against his side, I curl up beneath his arm, enveloped by his warmth, intoxicated by his scent, mesmerized by his beauty.
He looks down at me, his free hand finding a stray curl and brushing it behind my ear before his fingers lightly run along my jaw, and I stare up into his deep, emotion-filled eyes.
“You’re something else, aren’t you, Bianka Popov?” he murmurs.
I shiver at the sound of my name.Why does it sound so sexy when he says it?I don’t know, but I never want him to stop. And as he leans in to capture my lips once again, I feel like my heart just might burst through my chest.
I’ve never been in love before, but dear god, this is the most intense crush I’ve ever had. By far.
1
BIANKA
Two Years Later
“Oh, shit,” Ellie mutters beside me as we wait for our History of Musical Theater class to start.
“What?” I ask, turning to follow her gaze to the door, but I already know.
Cassio’s standing in the doorway, his stupidly charming smile spreading easily across his face as our eyes meet.
