She takes my face in her hands and teases her lips just over mine. “One day you’ll be the head of this family, Damiano. Dad won’t matter anymore. You’ll make the rules, and you can have anything you want.”
The words hang between us, heavy with promise and danger. Her lips are so close to mine I can feel her breath. The warehouse burns behind us, casting dancing shadows across her beautiful face. Smoke billows into the night sky, and somewhere in the distance, sirens begin to wail.
I should pull away. I should put distance between us before we do something we can’t take back.
Instead, I groan like a man in pain and pull her mouth down to mine.
The kiss is nothing like that accidental brush of lips in the diner years ago. This is desperate and raw. I kiss her like I’m drowning and she’s air. I’ve been waiting my whole life for this moment and can’t wait another second.
Lucy gasps against my mouth, and then she’s kissing me back just as fiercely. Her fingers tangle in my hair. Her body presses against mine, all soft curves and deadly strength. I taste smoke and salt and something essentially her that makes my head spin.
My hand fists in her hair while the other grips her hip. I can’t get close enough to her. I want to crawl inside her skin and never leave.
When we finally break apart, we’re both gasping for breath. I rest my forehead against hers, my eyes squeezed shut, trying to get control of myself.
“Lucy,” I breathe. “Fuck. We can’t do this.”
“We just did.”
“We can’t do this again.” My hands are still holding her close, contradicting my words. “Not like this, surrounded by corpses and burning buildings.” I open my eyes and look at her, trying to make her understand. “When I make you mine, it won’t be in hiding. I’m going to find a way for us to be together. Really together.”
Her eyes search my face. “How? Dad will never allow it.”
“I don’t know yet.” I cup her face in my hands, my thumbs stroking her cheekbones. “But I swear to you, Lucy. I’ll find a way.”
The sirens are getting louder. We don’t have much time, but I can’t seem to let her go.
“The Sokolis,” Lucy says, and I hear the steel in her voice. “This wasn’t random, was it? They set a trap.”
I nod grimly. “They could have blown up the warehouse, but instead they tripped the silent alarm and waited until there were Barones inside.”
“They’re getting bolder.” Her hands rest on my chest, and I can feel my heart pounding beneath her palms. “This isn’t just about territory anymore, Damiano. They’re trying to kill us one by one. They nearly killed you.”
She’s right. The realization sits heavy in my gut.
Lucy leans back to look at me properly. In the firelight, I can see the determination in her eyes, the fierce intelligence that’s always drawn me to her. “We need to be smarter. Stronger.”
“That’s why I want to build alliances with Vincenzo, Rafiel, and Cristiano.”
“Let me help you.” She takes my hand, lacing our fingers together. “With everything. Two sets of eyes, two minds working together. We’re stronger together than apart.”
I start to shake my head, ready to tell her it’s too dangerous, but she cuts me off.
“I just killed two men to save your life. Don’t tell me I can’t handle the danger. Don’t protect me from the world we live in. Let me stand beside you.”
I stare at her, this woman who’s been by my side since we were children. Who followed me into danger tonight without hesitation. Who killed for me without flinching.
She’s right. We are stronger together.
“All right,” I say finally. “But we do this carefully. Dad can’t know you’re involved in family business beyond what he approves. He can’t know you’re armed or that you followed me here.” I pause, my thumb brushing over her swollen lips. “That we kissed. When I make you mine, it won’t be in hiding like this,” I repeat.
She nods, though I can see the reluctance in her eyes. Hiding what we are to each other is the hardest thing I’m asking of her.
I pull her close again, needing to feel her against me. “Then we work together against the Sokolis. Against anyone who threatens us. But we also work toward finding a way for us to be together.”
Her smile is small but fierce. “I’ve been waiting for you my whole life, Damiano. I can wait a little longer. As long as I know you’re working toward us.”
“Always. But we have to be careful. If Dad suspects there’s more than brotherly and sisterly love between us—” I begin urgently.
