I'd done it. I'd actually done it.
I'd run from my family. From Dante. From the wedding that would've trapped me forever.
And somehow, impossibly, I'd convinced the Vitales to take me in.
I lay down on the bed in my damp underclothes and stared at the ceiling. Tried to slow my racing heart. Tried to believe I was actually safe.
The fear wouldn't go away completely. My father was powerful. Connected. He wouldn't just let me disappear.
But for tonight, I was here. Protected by men dangerous enough to make even my father think twice.
I closed my eyes and tried to sleep.
CHAPTER 2: ELIO
AT 2AM Iwas still watching the monitors.
Julian Bianchi sat on his bed, back against the wall, knees drawn up. He'd changed into the clothes Stefan had brought him earlier—gray sweatpants and a dark blue henley that looked too big on his frame. Jeans were folded neatly on the chair, ready for when he got up. His hair was still damp from the shower he'd taken an hour ago.
He hadn't slept. Hadn't even tried to lie down since Stefan left.
Just sat there staring at the wall like he was waiting for something to go wrong.
I should've delegated monitoring to someone else. Should've gone home hours ago. Should've treated Julian like any other potential security threat and let my team handle surveillance while I got sleep.
Instead I sat in my office watching a twenty-one-year-old runaway who'd made himself my problem.
Professional evaluation. That's what I told myself. I needed to assess the threat level. Understand who we were dealing with. Make sure Julian wasn't a plant sent by the Bianchis to infiltrate our operations.
The lie tasted bitter even as I thought it.
Truth was, I couldn't stop watching him. Couldn't stop cataloging the small details that didn't add up. The expensive education. The careful manners. The intelligence behind thosedark eyes that suggested Julian Bianchi was more than he appeared.
On the monitor, Julian shifted. Pulled his knees tighter to his chest. He looked young. Vulnerable. Nothing like the threat Matteo should've seen when he agreed to let him stay.
My phone buzzed. Text from Sandro:Still at the club? Go home. Get sleep. Tomorrow's going to be complicated.
I ignored it.
Julian still hadn't eaten. Stefan had offered to bring him food when he'd delivered the clothes, but Julian had declined. Said he wasn't hungry. That was hours ago.
The kid needed to eat.
I left my office and went down to the club's kitchen. The night chef was cleaning up but hadn't shut everything down yet. I ordered a burger and fries, added a soda, carried the tray back upstairs myself.
Stood outside Julian's door for a moment before knocking.
No response.
I knocked again. "Julian. I'm coming in."
I opened the door. Julian looked up from his position on the bed, eyes wary. He'd been expecting me.
"You missed dinner." I set the tray down on the small table near the window.
"I wasn't hungry."
"You need to eat anyway."
