“And I know who you are,” I say, still not understanding what she means.
“Look, I have no interest in getting involved with someone like you, so let’s just pretend tonight never happened.”
I throw my head back and let out a maniacal laugh. “You think I’ll ever forget you after tonight?”
Liana’s silent for a few seconds while she assesses me. If she’s looking for any sign I’m fucking around, she’s going to be looking for a long-ass time.
“Tonight didn’t happen, okay, Massimo?”
My lip curls into a grin at the sound of my name fluttering across her delectable lips. “You realize we’re inevitable now, right?”
She shakes her head. “No. Absolutely not. Go find yourself another girl to take home. I’m not interested.”
I take a step toward her, closing the distance between us, and wrap my arms around her waist. Her hands fall to my chest, and she sucks in a sharp breath.
“We both know that’s a lie,” I say, and her heaving breaths have me questioning what the real issue is here. My family has never done anything against hers, so what would make her so reluctant when it comes to us?
“I have zero interest in being with a mobster like you.”
I narrow my gaze on hers.A mobster like me.What exactly isthatsupposed to mean?
Her lips are set in a tight line, and her eyes are heated with a flame that could incinerate anyone. Knowing I’m not going to get anywhere with her tonight, I release her and take a step back.
She watches me closely, then turns around to walk away, but before she’s able to take two steps, I say, “You can run now, Liana, but make no mistake, I’ll be back for you, and when I do, there won’t be any more denying what’s between us.”
She ignores me, but I know my words have seeped through her stiffened body as she walks away.
Picking up her mask off the floor, I run my fingers over the delicate lace and crystals, smiling to myself.
I’ll give her the space she wants. I’ll wait for her to come to me if that’s what it takes. But if she doesn’t, then I’ll make her, because fuck all the other women who have ever been in my life. From this point forward, the only one who matters is Liana DiMaggio.
1
MASSIMO
PRESENT DAY
MASSIMO, 28 YEARS OLD
LIANA, 25 YEARS OLD
“Thank you for coming in so early this morning,” my dad says, sitting across from me at his desk in his home office. “I’ve been wanting to speak with you about something lately, but with all the meetings I’ve had, I haven’t found the time to call you in.”
“Is everything okay?” I ask, my curiosity piqued.
“Yes, yes, everything’s fine, but there’s something that’s been weighing on my mind.”
I furrow a brow at him. “Anything I can help you with?”
He smirks, his mustache lifting at the movement. “I’ve decided it’s time I leave things to you.”
My brows shoot up to my hairline. “You’re… retiring?”
My dad has aged incredibly fucking well. His full head of salt-and-pepper hair is as immaculate as ever, and he’s still ingood shape. It surprises me he wants to retire already. He’s fully coherent and capable of making sound decisions for our family.
“Your mother and I would like to do some traveling—visit some good friends in Italy for an extended amount of time. The only thing that’s keeping us from doing that is the family business here. Is that something you’re able to help me with?”
“Of course,” I say, all too eagerly.
