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I knew that the Russos were itimate businessmen, and once I let er had to hide from me

But my fear was et the blood that ran in his veins was the blood of generations of the original familia—those hard, vicious men

I saw it in him soht hiht become

There was a ruthlessness in hied But that ruthlessness was te capacity to love

When his grandfather spoke to his father of hi over the darker side of the fa in at the door unbeknownst to him

Poor Draco, he had fought the idea vehe for her son, I kneas too late; I’d already seen it in hiht I told him what that animal had done to me

I’ll never forget that as long as I live There was no hate, no repulsion forhim Still, it was his coldness that told me what I needed to know

That hard iciness that I’d seen in hiain, when someone had messed with one of his sisters, came into his eyes, and even I felt the need to take a step back So off, not for Alonzo’s sake, but for my son’s The boy had ht possible, and I know my husband would commit murder to protect what’s his

Funny enough, it was this reaction that gave , for now, seeht We live in a different time and place, after all Here there’s a justice systes Here, my old-world ideals would be frowned upon But here, they didn’t teach you about honor Not the kind of honor that money can’t buy

So I listened in that night, the night that I could’ve turned it all back and left it alone If I stuck by Draco’s side and protected our son, he’d never know that side of his family enterprise But somehow, I kneas already too late

In the end, it was I orked on my husband Our boy was curious, yes He could spend hours in the lab with his uncle Garret, but I knehat lived inside hi away from who he is

What fate had led ht, was just as powerful as the Ricci? Was that not a sign? I s were coether for me as they had ever since the day Draco found me in the stables

GIANNA

“Where’s that doll your grandmother sent you for your birthday?” I looked around fro with my new toys alone for the last half hour Daddy had just left to go to work after pro special

I heldin the doorway Somehow I knew that the sone It had taken my little brain forever to notice that it always happens that way When daddy is here, she s irl who’s the sae as I But when daddy’s not around, she’s mean and hurts

MyinNo doubt Victoria will getelse of mine I didn’t use to mind before, back when her ether

Back then, Aunt Becky had been nice Mom would always take her places with us because her husband was gone a lot, and they didn’t have randma was here for a visit My Grand atI never understood because Aunt Becky was so nice

I could never figure out why Grandma Eloise didn’t like her and always told mommy to be afraid of her That’s not the word she used, but my little brain can’t remember I just know that that’s what it h, in fact, she always smiled at Aunt Becky, and they seemed to like each other