He was deflecting. Changing the subject. Running again.
But he'd answered honestly first. Had admitted his real fears. Had shown me the vulnerability underneath the control.
That was progress.
Okay. But Elio? This conversation isn't over either.
I know. Sleep well, Julian.
I lay in bed and stared at the ceiling.
My father's people were asking questions. That meant complications. Danger. Exactly the kind of external threat that would give Elio more reasons to maintain distance.
But it also meant I was about to prove my value. My usefulness. My place here at Inferno.
And maybe, if I was lucky, I could prove to Elio that I was strong enough to handle whatever came. That I wasn't fragile or naive or someone who needed protecting from his own choices.
That I was exactly what I'd told him: dangerous.
I fell asleep with my phone in my hand and Elio's words in my head.
You're going to destroy me.
Maybe.
Or maybe we'd destroy each other and build something better from the ruins.
Either way, I was all in.
CHAPTER 8: ELIO
I WAS LOSINGthe battle against my own desire.
It had been four days since Julian cornered me in my office. Four days since he'd touched my chest and told me he saw me. Four days since I'd admitted I was terrified and he'd texted back that we could figure this out together.
Four days of torture.
I wasn't sleeping. Couldn't sleep. Every time I closed my eyes I saw Julian's face when I'd kissed him. Heard his voice sayingI'm choosing youwith such certainty. Felt the phantom touch of his hand over my racing heart.
I'd given up trying to sleep around 3 AM three days ago. Now I just worked. Stayed in my office until exhaustion forced me to my apartment for a few hours of restless unconsciousness. Then came back and worked some more.
The monitors had become both comfort and torture. I watched Julian move through his routines. Watched him work with Stefan. Watched him read in his room at night. Cataloged every detail like a man obsessed.
Which I was. Obviously.
Sandro noticed first.
We were in a strategy meeting—me, Sandro, Matteo, Luca, and Stefan—discussing the plan to expose Winston Bianchi's cooperation with the FBI. I was presenting security concerns when Sandro cut me off mid-sentence.
"Elio. You just repeated the same point three times. Are you even listening to yourself?"
I blinked. Looked down at my notes. He was right.
"Sorry. Long night."
"You've had a lot of those recently." Sandro's tone was pointed. "When's the last time you slept?"
"I'm fine."
