Chapter 26- Mind Your Place
Dame watched Mark Sullivan’s face fill another TV screen spouting poetic bullshit about “Inst love” and “regrets,” my legendary control threatened
to snop
“Tuum off,” I ordered through clenched teeth.
James, my campaign manager, hesitated with the remote. “Sir, you need to see this. The interview’s gone viral. His gallery appearances are drawing crowds. People are starting to question
said turn. li. Off”
The TV wem black, but the damage was done. Sullivan’s words echoed in my head: “When you truly love someone, you never stop fighting for them. And Lucia Valentini.. she was worth fighting for?
My hands curled into fists on my mahogany desk. The artist had been making rounds on moning shows, cultural programs, anywhere that would give him a platform to pant himself as the tragic romantic hero. The struggling artist who’d lost his muse to a powerful mafia heir
was calculated. Strategic Someone was backing hun, funding this media circus.
“Our sources confirm he’s received substantial support from multiple panties.” Marco reponed from his position by the window. Chen Medin Group Foster Industries
“My opponents.” I didn’t need the list. Every major player rd crossed, every rival Ed out maneuvered–they’d found their perfect weapon. A preity boy with a camera and a broken heart.
“The public’s eating it up,” James added, scrolling through his tablet. “The artist versas the mobster. True love against arranged marriage. 1r’s- “A fucking firy tale. The words came out as a groud. Find out who’s bankrolling him. Every donor, every connection. I want them all.”
Marco modeled already typing on his phone. But Junes shifted uncomfortably.
“Sir, about the campaign.. these stories are gaining traction. The polls-
“I don’t care about the polls.” My voice dropped to that dangerous register that made lesser men tremble. “I care about making Mark Sullivani Ciappear
“Disappear?” James went pale. “Mr. Romano, you can’t
“Can’t what?” I stood slowly, enjoying how he flinched. “Cank project who’s mine! Can’t silence someone who threatens everything we’ve built“ There are other ways-
“Are there?” Imoved to the window, staring out at my city. My empire. “Tell me, Jones, how do you suggest we handle this? More press releases? Carefully worded memes! While he’s ur there painting himself as the noble victim and Lucia as some trapped princess?”
The door opened before James could respond. Luch swept in, a vision in emerald silk that made my breath catch despite my rage. Her eyes blazed with that fire that had first draw mean her
“Everyone out” she commanded, her voice carrying that blend of Valentini authority and Romano steel she’d perfected.
Marco and James didn’t wait for my confirmation. They knew that one
When the door closed behind them, Lucia tamed those fience eyes on ine. “Have you lost your mind!“
“Probably couldn’t help the dark langli that escaped. “But not in the way you think.”
“Really?” She stalked closer, fearless as always “Because 1 just heard you talking about making Mark disappear. Please tell me you’re not actually considering-
“What? Removing a threat?” I closed the distance between us, backing her against my desk. “Protecting what’s mine?”
“He’s not a threat!” Her hunds pressed against my chest, but he didn’t push me away. “He’s just…hart. And being used by your enemies”
“Used““I caught her chin, forcing her to meet my gare. “Or willing? Tell me, car, do you really think his feelings are just an set? That he’s not still in love with you!”
Something flickered in her eyes–paint Regret? “His feelings don’t matter.”
“Don’t they?” My fingers tightened slightly. “Every time he appears on another show, talking about your love story, your comection. you expect me
to just watch?
“Yes!” She showed me back, her temper fluring. “Because that’s what rational people dol They don’t plot murders or kidnappings or
“Who said anything about murder?” I smiled, but there was no warmth in . “I was thinking more retirement. A nice villa in the South Pacific. Plenty of time to paint sunsets and write poetry about lost love.”
“You can’t do that. Her voice shook with anger or fear or both. Twon’t let you.”
“You won’t let me I moved closer acain, raging her against the desk. “And how exactly do you plan to stop ine, cara)”
“By handling it myself.” She lifted her chin defiantly. I talk to him. Make him understand
She will see and talk to him. Agala
“No.” The word crane out as a
as a growl.
12:58
Clupter 20 Mind Your Place
“No!” Her eyebrows shot up. “You don’t get to date who talk to, Danir.”
k against me
“When it comes to him? Yes, I do.” My hands gripped her hips, pulling her flush a
st me. “You’re mine, Lucia My fiancée. My wife in three weeks
She pushed against my chest again, but Theld firm. “And your possessive caveman mutine isn’t helping anything!”
“You’re impossible!” But her breath hitched as my mouth found her neck. “And arrogant. And
Iresponded instamly, hing her onto the desk as papers scattered to the floor. My hands pushed up her skin, finding bare skin that made me growl
with satisfaction.
“Tute you,” she gasped as my fingers found lace.
“No.“Tucked hard at her neck.
“Danie- Her · protest turned into a moon as my fingers slid beneath silk……
“Say you won’t see him.” I demanded againu her skin. “Promise me.”
Instead of answering, she pulled me back to her mouth, kissing me with a desperation that matched my own. But when I tried to deepen it, she bit my lip again and shoved ine hark
i don’t get to do this. Use sex to comrol me, to make me submit to your
“No.” She slid off the desk, straightening her dress with trembling hands. “You d posesive bildiyim”
‘Luria-‘
Tim going to talk to M
to Mark.” Her voice was steel now, all traces of desire buried beneath Valemini determination. “I’m going to handle this my way:
And if you try top me, if you hurt him…”
“You’ll what?” I advanced on her again, my core slipping. “Leave? Bun back to your artistic fairy tale!”
Pain flashed across her face. “Is that when you think? That I want him?*
“Think you’re torn.” The word taued like acid “Between the simple happiness he offers and the complicated reality of us.”
“Stop it.” Her your cracked slightly.
“No” I backed her again the wall, my hands bracing on either of her heal. “You want to presend this is just business? Fine. But we both know it stopped being that along time ago
“What do you want from me?” she whispered, her eyes bright with unshed ter
“Everything.” The word came out raw, bonest in a way 1 hadi neam to be. I want all of you. Luris. Not just your body or your name or your political value. Everything”
She stared at mc.something vulnerable flickering in her expression before her walls slammed back into place.
“You can’t have everything” She docked under ny arm moving toward the door. “That’s not how our world works”
“Lucia.” My voke stopped her with her bad on the doorknob. If you meet with him.. if you put yourself in danger..” “You’ll what she turned back, her chin lifted in challenge. “Make me daappear too!”
Ill do whatever it takes to protect what’s mine.” The words car our soft, dangerous. “Tven if you hate me for it.” “Talready hate you” But her voice shook betraying the li
She fled before I could see her reation, the door slamming behind her with enough force to rattle the windows.
1 stood in the silence of my office, surrounded by sractered papers and the lingering scent of her perfume. My carefully constructed control lay in picces my feel.
“Marco,” Italled, knowing he waited ja oorside,
He appeared instantly, reading my expression with the ease of long practice.
“Find Sullivan.” My voice was ice now, all trace of emotion locked away. “I want to know every move he makes, every breath he takes. And find out who’s polling his strings.”
“And when we find them?”
Timiled, the expression holding nothing but promier of violence. Then we remind them why the Romano name is feared in this city”
