"We'll arrange that." Sandro stood. "In the meantime, you continue working with Stefan on the books. Elio will maintain security oversight. And Julian? Welcome to Inferno. Officially."
It wasn't warmth exactly. But it was acceptance.
Julian stood and shook hands again. Professional. Composed. Giving nothing away.
I escorted him out of the conference room and back toward the elevator.
"That went well," I said.
"Did it? I couldn't tell if they believed me or were planning how to dispose of my body."
"With Sandro and Luca, those aren't mutually exclusive options."
Julian laughed. The sound was genuine. Surprised. It did something dangerous to my chest.
We got on the elevator. The doors closed. We were alone in the small space.
"Thank you," Julian said quietly. "For saying you believed me. You didn't have to do that."
"I meant it. You're not a good enough liar to fake that level of detail."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"It was."
The elevator went down to the club level. Julian stood close enough that I could smell the soap from his shower this morning. Something clean and simple.
I forced myself to focus on the floor numbers. On anything except how aware I was of Julian's presence.
The doors opened. We stepped out.
Matteo was waiting.
"Elio. A word?" He glanced at Julian. "In private."
I gestured for Julian to go ahead to the kitchen to grab lunch. Watched him walk away before turning to Matteo.
"What?"
Matteo crossed his arms. Studied me with the kind of directness that made most people uncomfortable.
"You're developing feelings for him."
"No, I'm not."
"You're lying."
I kept my expression neutral. "Even if I was developing feelings, it wouldn't matter. Julian's too young and too vulnerable. He's under my protection. That means hands off."
"That didn't stop me with Stefan."
"Stefan was different."
Matteo laughed. "How? He was twenty-three to my thirty. Vulnerable. Under my protection. A captive, for fuck's sake. I had no business touching him and we both know it. But I did it anyway because I couldn't help myself."
"I'm not you."
"No, you're worse. You're the one who's always in control. Always disciplined. Always follows the rules." Matteo's voice softened slightly. "Which means when you finally break, it's going to be spectacular. And messy. And probably destructive."
