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“You need to be prepared for anything,” Emilia says, squeezing my hand. “And having a crush on Theo will only make things harder.”
“It’s sinful, I know,” I say. “I shouldn’t be having these thoughts.”
Emilia pulls me into a hug. Even though I’m twenty-one, I still find comfort in Emilia’s embrace. “I never said it was sinful. It’s just going to be hard. To love a man and to have to marryanother one day will only set you up for heartbreak. For your own benefit, I’d find a way to move on from Theo.”
“It’s ok,” I sniffle. “He doesn’t even like me like that. Every time I try to talk to him, he just acts all gruff.”
“Then you should learn to do the same,” she says, pulling back. “Try to limit your interactions with him. It might make things easier. Now, should we go back out there? You don’t need to feel embarrassed.”
“Yeah,” I whisper.
Following Emilia into the dining room, all I can think is that while my brain knows she’s right, my heart is screaming at me to never stop loving Theo.
When I see him in the dining room after taking my seat, I instantly look away. Theo is my sin, and I need to snuff it out.
CHAPTER 2
Theo
For the past year, I’ve been in torture.
I cannot have feelings for Cecilia. I do not, I tell myself.
But watching her run from the room, covered in soda, I can’t help but feel the smallest amount of affection for her.
It’s been growing in me since she turned twenty. It was like, one day she was just a kid, and then suddenly, she was a young woman.
Cecilia has a subtle kind of beauty about her. Yes, her blonde hair would draw anyone man in, but the rest of her is subdued. Humble. Like she’s not fully aware of how beautiful she is.
I just hate that I’m becoming aware of how beautiful she is.
I’ve been a bodyguard working in the service of the Moretti Family since I was twenty-six, ever since I left the army. I first met Cecilia when she was twelve years old. She was nothing more than young girl who wore a cross around her neck. She was part of my assignment. My duty. To protect her and her family. Nothing more.
I remember when we first met.
I stepped foot through the fancy Moretti brownstone. I grew up in New York, but my life was centered around baseball down the street with the neighborhood kids and trying to get foodwhen my dad forgot to pay the bills and my mom wrapping my in her arms, keeping me warm when the power went out in our tiny Queens apartment.
Entering the Moretti brownstone was like entering a completely different life. One full of fine China, fresh-cut flowers in glass vases resting on a lone table in the middle of a huge foyer with a grand chandelier overlooking everything, and a family comprised of multiple children and a mom who looked elegant despite all of it. I’m a single child, so I never knew what it was like to grow up in such a huge household.
It really was an entirely new world for me.
I was hired because one of the Moretti siblings, Gemma, was kidnapped by Viktor, and Giulia wanted to make sure none of her other children would suffer the same fate. I was surprised when Gemma ended up falling in love with Viktor and they started attending family meals with everyone, but it wasn’t my place to cast judgment. My place was and has always been to stand guard behind the family and remain silent.
On that first day I arrived at the house, Giulia looked me over head to toe and gave a sharp nod. “You have the right stature to protect my kids. When I hired you, I was told you know how to fight?”
“I was in the Army, ma’am,” I told her, straightening my back and locking out my knees.
“Why aren’t you still in the army?”
“I suffered a broken leg and was discharged. Now, I’m looking for other work.”
She narrowed her eyes at me. “And you think you’re capable of protecting my kids?”
I had to shove the memory that haunted me forever out of my mind to answer her. “Yes, ma’am. I know how to fight, defend, and use a gun.”
“Good. You’ll meet my children, and we’ll do a trail run to make sure you’re a good fit for my family.” She blinked and suddenly, she was crying. “I’m sorry. It’s just … one of my daughters is in trouble. I’m worried.”
Without thinking, I placed my hand on her shoulder. “I may not be able to protect your daughter, but I will protect the rest of your kids. I promise you that.”
