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And Pia was as different frora as he himself was from his father He would never trust anyone like his father had done He would never need a woth like Marco had done He just didn’t have that kind of vulnerability

Would it be so bad though?

Giovanni, sensing victory, went in for the kill shot “You’re a fool if you don’t see that I offer everything you want, Raphael” He stood up, and again, Raphael was hit with how old and frail—no, how ill Gio looked “But I’ll not have you chasing her away”

Shock hounded away concern Da about?”

“She’s talking of returning to the States for a short trip That she…whatever it is, it’s because of you You owethat Pia is safe in your hands Before—”

Raphael never got a chance to reply, for Giovanni collapsedinto his throat, Raphael barely caught hiround

And while he watched the paraed With his attraction to Pia getting out of hand every single day, with Giovanni’sover into his health, with the sharks that would forever circle Pia whatever measure he took, there was only one solution

His fate was sealed and so was Pia’s and he would be the one to make the stars fall from her eyes

Because he could never give her what she wanted, and noould be preventing her fro it with anyone else

CHAPTER NINE

RAPHAEL’S APARTMENT WAS located in a trendy, upscale area of Milan’s fashion district The lights and fanfare of the canal district were visible from the tenth-floor apartment Yet there was utter privacy too

After the harroeek at the hospital with Gio, the quiet and the ultraluxury didn’t sit ith Pia Both of the a silent vigil by the side of the man they adored