CHAPTER 26
RAFE
They say love makes you reckless. I always thought fear was worse, a far more dangerous motivator, stripping a man of his logic, his control. Yet here I am, letting the entire world think I've fallen for the girl who could ruin me, who threatens to expose every carefully guarded secret.
And I'm starting to wonder if maybe they were right. Maybe, in this twisted reality, love's the greatest recklessness of all.
The engagement post went live thirty-four minutes ago. I timed it precisely. A perfectly filtered photo. Me on one knee, feigning devotion. Nikki glowing like something worth killing for.
The caption, a concise declaration of false sentiment:
"She said yes #AmoreMio #NikkiAndRafe."
The engagement is fake.
The consequences aren’t.
Enzo's beside me, his fingers flying across a separate tablet, scrolling through a flood of public reactions.
"Millions of views already," he mutters. "Half the internet wants to be invited to your wedding. The other half wants to beher. They're obsessed. The engagement's the top trending topic globally."
"She's safer for now," I say. My eyes are fixed on the numbers, the metrics of our success. The words are a reassurance to myself as much as to him.
"For now," Enzo agrees. He knows, just as I do, that 'for now' means little in our world. It's a temporary reprieve, a breath before the next inevitable storm.
"She's not built for this," he continues. "This kind of pressure. She's a creature of the light, of public adoration. This darkness… it'll eventually consume her."
I don't answer.
The problem isn't her. It's me.
Because I want to keep her. Not just safe, but truly mine. To hold her. To protect her from every shadow, every threat.
And wanting anything in my world, truly wanting anything beyond power, beyond control, is a vulnerability I can't afford.
Yet, it consumes me.
"The invitation list for the Black Hall event in Milan tomorrow night has been leaked," Enzo continues. "It's circulating. Everywhere."
“Is that a problem?” I ask.
“Could be,” he replies. “You and Nikki are being given top billing.#PowerCoupleOfTheYear. Hashtag included, of course. It's unavoidable now. Every gossip column, every news outlet. They're all reporting on your attendance, on your first public debut as an engaged couple."
The screen shows a cascade of headlines:
"Italy's Most Mysterious Power Couple Set to Make Rare Appearance."
"All Eyes on Nikki Ricci and Her Enigmatic Fiancé."
"Fashion's Night of Nights Gets Royal Treatment."
“Any word on Scorpione Nero?” I need to know their movements, their intent. In my world, silence often precedes violence.
Enzo nods. "Silent so far, on public channels. But I've got two separate informants, both reliable, saying they're still watching you both carefully. They might even be there. If they attend, it won’t be to congratulate you. It’ll be to test how far they can push before you push back. You don't have to go," he adds quietly "You can keep her here, secure and out of sight. Send your regrets, business emergency, whatever excuse you want. It might be too much of a risk."
"No. There's no going back now. To cancel would be to show weakness. To confirm their suspicions. It'd be an admission that they've rattled me, that I'm afraid for her safety." My voice hardens. "It would be an admission of defeat."
He raises a brow, studying my face with the intensity of a man who's known me for fifteen years. "You might be putting her directly in the line of fire. Do you truly believe this is the best course of action? You’re not just gambling with her safety anymore. You’re gambling with your judgment. That’s new.”
