Whatever came next, we'd face it together.
CHAPTER 11: JULIAN
I WOKE UPin Elio's bed to sunlight streaming through the windows and his arm around my waist.
This was becoming my favorite way to start the day. Better than anything I'd experienced in my entire life. Just the two of us in his minimalist apartment, the city waking up outside, everything quiet and peaceful and right.
Elio was already awake. I could tell by his breathing. He did this sometimes—woke up before me and just lay there. Watching me sleep, probably. Being protective even when there was no threat.
"Morning," I said without opening my eyes.
"Morning." His arm tightened around me. "How'd you know I was awake?"
"Your breathing changes. You think I don't pay attention to these things?"
"You pay attention to everything. It's one of the things I lo—" He stopped. Cleared his throat. "One of the things I appreciate about you."
I smiled. He'd almost said love. We'd been dancing around that word for days now. Both of us feeling it. Neither of us saying it.
I was twenty-one. He was thirty-five. We'd known each other barely six weeks. It was too soon to be in love.
Except it didn't feel too soon. It felt exactly right.
"Breakfast?" Elio asked, already moving to get up.
"You're going to spoil me. I'll forget how to function without you making me food every morning."
"That's the plan. Can't have you leaving if you've forgotten how to feed yourself."
I grabbed his hand. Pulled him back down. Kissed him thoroughly.
"I'm not leaving," I said against his mouth. "Ever. You're stuck with me."
"Good."
We were getting dressed—Elio in his usual black suit, me in jeans and a sweater—when his phone rang.
He checked the screen. Frowned.
"Sandro. This early isn't good."
He answered. Listened. His whole body tensed.
"We'll be there in fifteen minutes."
He hung up and looked at me. "Emergency meeting. All partners. Sandro said you should come too."
Fear spiked through me. "What happened?"
"He didn't say. But it's serious. Get your shoes. We need to go now."
The conference room at Inferno was tense when we arrived.
Sandro sat at the head of the table, laptop open, expression grim. Matteo stood by the window radiating barely controlled violence. Luca looked composed but his eyes were sharp. Alert. Stefan sat next to Matteo looking worried.
Elio and I took seats. His hand found mine under the table. Squeezed once.
"What's going on?" Elio asked.
