No one can know about our three children.
I take a deep breath to push away the memories of our past.
For a moment, I thought we might have forever.
I’ll never forget how he’d look at me like I was his entire world.
But then everything shattered.
My father went to prison.
Luca was to blame.
Roberto pulls open the door before I reach for the handle, greeting me with a warm smile.
"Miss Elena! Come in, come in." He steps aside to give me room.
I step into the foyer, immediately scanning for signs of lingering council members. "The meeting's over, right?"
"Just finished, Miss." Roberto lowers his voice. "Ran longer than usual."
My muscles tense. If the meeting just ended, then…
The low murmur of male voices drifts from the direction of Dom's study.
My heart rate spikes.
I should leave.
But I can’t just walk out now.
I only just walked in.
“I’m going to be in the living room.”
“Yes, Don Vitale had staff bring down all the decorations.”
I hurry past him to get to the room before anyone from the meeting makes it to the foyer.
The massive tree stands naked in the corner of Dom's formal living room, waiting for its holiday transformation.
The staff has arranged everything perfectly, lights, ornaments, and garlands, all awaiting my direction.
But my mind isn't on Christmas decorations.
Now that thoughts of Luca have seeped in, they seem to want to stay.
It’s been seven years since my world imploded.
I’d have thought time and age would dull the shock of it all, but it hasn’t.
I was twenty-one, desperately in love with Luca Monti, and planning our future together.
Then my father was arrested in a setup by Luca.
Why would he do that?
Before I knew it, Luca was gone.
