"Completely sure."
Sandro nodded. "Then it's nobody's business but yours and Elio's. But Julian? If that changes—if he does anything you're uncomfortable with, anything that feels wrong—you tell me. Or Matteo. Or Stefan. Someone. Don't suffer in silence because you think you have to protect him or protect your position here."
"I will. But I won't need to. Elio would never—" I stopped. Considered my words. "He's a good man, Sandro. Better than he thinks he is. He sees me as someone capable and dangerous and worth choosing. That's not manipulation. That's respect."
"I'm glad you see it that way." Sandro pushed off from his desk. "For what it's worth, I think you're good for him. Elio's spent too long alone. Convinced himself he didn't deserve connection. Maybe you'll prove him wrong."
"That's the plan."
Sandro's expression turned more serious. "One more thing. We're moving forward with the Winston exposure tomorrow. The information will leak to the other families by end of business day. Once that happens, there's no going back. Your father will know you betrayed him. The Bianchis will come looking. Are you prepared for that?"
The reminder of danger should've scared me. Should've made me reconsider.
Instead I felt calm. Certain.
"Yes. I'm prepared. This is the right thing to do. The only thing that makes me safe long-term."
"Good. Because once we do this, you're one of us. Permanently. Part of Inferno. Under our protection. Is that what you want?"
I thought about Elio's hands on me. His voice sayingyou're mine now. The way he looked at me like I was something worth protecting. Worth choosing.
"Yes. That's exactly what I want."
"Then welcome to the family. Officially." Sandro offered his hand.
I shook it. Felt the weight of what I was agreeing to. Felt the certainty that this was right.
I wasn't just choosing Elio. I was choosing this life. This world. These people who'd given me sanctuary when I had nowhere else to go.
And I didn't regret it.
Not even a little bit.
***
At eight that night, Elio knocked on my door.
I'd been waiting. Changed into clean jeans and a dark blue henley. Tried not to look like I'd spent the last hour obsessing over what to wear.
When I opened the door, Elio was there in black jeans and a gray sweater. Casual. More relaxed than I'd ever seen him at Inferno.
"Ready?" he asked.
We took the private elevator down. Elio's car was waiting in the garage. We drove in comfortable silence. His hand found mine across the console. Threaded our fingers together.
Such a simple gesture. But it made my chest tight with feeling.
"Nervous?" he asked.
"A little. Good nervous, though."
"I've never brought anyone to my apartment before. It's my private space. No one from Inferno has been there except Sandro once when we first bought it."
"Then why bring me?"
"Because I want you there. Want you in my space. Want to see you somewhere that's just mine." He squeezed my hand. "Is that okay?"
"More than okay."
