"I'm gathering evidence against my father. Crimes that violate Council rules. Things that will get him removed from power. It's taking longer than I want, but I'm close. And when I take him down, when I'm in control of this family, you won't have to marry him. You'll be free. We'll both be free."
Hope fluttered in my chest, fragile and terrifying.
"And Lia?"
"Protected. Always. That's non-negotiable." His thumb brushedacross my cheekbone. "I want something different than this violent life. Something better. And I want it with you."
The intensity in his eyes made my throat tight.
He leaned in, his mouth moving toward mine. My eyes started to close, my body angling toward his automatically.
"Oh my god, am I interrupting something?" I heard a familiar voice saying, startling us.
We broke apart so fast I nearly fell off the bench. Lia stood there, her eyes wide, a knowing smile spreading across her face.
Kai stood smoothly, his expression shifting to neutral so quickly I almost believed I'd imagined the heat in his eyes seconds ago.
"Just discussing security protocols." His voice was bored. Casual.
"Right. Security protocols that require you to be practically sitting in her lap." Lia's smile widened. "Very thorough security measures, brother."
"Weren't you supposed to be shopping with Mrs. Rossi?" Kai's tone was pure annoyed older brother.
"We finished early. Good thing too, apparently, or I would have missed this very professional security briefing." She winked at me.
Kai shot her a look that would have made most people back away. Lia just laughed.
"Fine, fine. I'll leave you two to your very important work." She started walking away, Kai muttered something in Italian that I was fairly certain involved creative threats against his sister's life and Lia stopped and replied him in Italy.
Despite everything, I laughed. The sound surprised me.
"I should go." Kai looked at me, and the heat was back in his eyes. "Before I do something that gives Lia actual ammunition."
He walked away, leaving me with Lia in the garden and my racing heart and spinning thoughts.
"So." She dropped onto the bench next to me, grinning like the cat who got the cream. "You and Kai."
"There's no me and Kai—"
"Oh please. I saw the way he was looking at you. Theway you were looking at him. That was not 'bodyguard and charge' energy. That was 'I want to rip your clothes off' energy."
My face burned. "Lia—"
"I don't mind, you know." Her voice went softer. Serious. "Actually, I think it's good. Kai needs someone. He's been alone for so long, protecting everyone else, carrying all this weight by himself. He deserves to have something—someone—that's just for him."
"But it's dangerous—"
"Everything in this life is dangerous." She took my hand. "But Kai is a good person. I know years of living under our monster father's control has hardened him, changed him in ways that aren't always pretty. But deep down, he's still the brother who used to read me stories when I had nightmares. The one who took punishments meant for me. The one who's been planning for years to take down our father so we can finally be free."
Her words made my throat tight.
"Just be careful, okay?" Her grip tightened. "I'm serious, Aria. If our father finds out about this—about you and Kai—he'll kill you both. And he'll make it slow. Make it hurt. Make sure everyone knows what happens when people betray him."
Ice flooded my veins.
"So whatever this is between you two, you need to be smart about it. No more almost-getting-caught in the garden situations. No more looking at each other like you want to devour each other where anyone can see."
I nodded, unable to find words.
