Chapter 33- New Year
Lucia Your secunty plan for the campaign rally is shi
I dropped the file on Dante’s pristine desk, enjoying how his eyebrows shot up at my language. Two weeks since Christmas Eve, since he’d came home bloody and victorious. Something had shifted between
“Good morning to you too, cam. His voice carried that dangerous amusement that used to intimidate me. Now it just made me want to push harder. “Sleep well?”
“Don’t deflect. These deployments leave three blind spots in the northeast quadrant.” I spread out the blueprints, deliberately disturbing his perfectly aged papers. “One siper with decent skills could-”
The buildings are secured”
“The buildings are compromised.” I met his dark eyes across the desk, daring him to dismiss me. “Or did you forget how easily they infiltrated the
museum Mail“.
A muscle jumped in his jaw the only sign that the assassination attempt still haunted him too. “Taylor’s team”
“Butifalible. Neither are you, despite what that to suggests.”
His laugh held genwine surprise. “When did you get so bold, lesorn?”
“When someone tried killing us on my watch. I planted both hands on his desk. leaning forward. “I won’t let it happen again.”
Something dangerous flickered in his eyes as he studied my late. Two weeks ago, I might have backed down from that interity. Now I just lifted my chin, challenging.
“Marco vetted these plam persually.
“Marco’s good. I’m better.” At his mised eyebrow, I added. “Three brothers who specialized in security protocols, remember? Plus a father who insisted his princess know every weak point defensive formation.”
He stood lovely, moving around the desk with that predatory grace that still made my pulse jump. But I held my ground as he invaded my space refusing to be intimidated.
blinked, thrown by his easy capitulation. “What?”
“Show e
me these supposed vulnerabilities.” His mouls curved in that wicked way that meant inable. “Prove you’re better than my head of security
Challenge accepted.
For the next hour, I walked him through every flow in the rally security plan. My fingers traced paths on blueprints while his eyes tracked my movements with unnerving focus, He asked sharp questions, tested my logic, pushed back on assumptions until I defended each poin with bea precision.
“The media setup here creates too much class,” explained, tapping the main eraser diogram. “Too many people with equipment, credentials that can be forged ”
“We need press coverage
“We need you alive The words came out fiercer in intended, I softened them with a shrug. Besides, there’s a better angle from the south:|| minuer Belter optins, easier to secure.
“Careful, cara” His voice carried that velvet danger that made heat pool in my belly. “Someone might think you actually care about my survival.” “I care about the campaign.” But we both heard the lie. Three months usil election. Can’t have you getting shot before the victory speech,”
His hand caught my wrist as I reached for another blueprint his thumb finding my pribe point. “Is that all you care about?”
“Don” I tried pulling away, but his grip tightened.
“Don’t what” He stepped closer, backing me against the desk. Don’t acknowledge here much things have changed? How well we work together
now!
“We’ve always worked well together. I mean it to sound professional, dismissive. Instead, it came out breathless as his other hand settled on my
“Not like this.” His fingers slid under my silk binus, finding bare skin. “Not with this kind of trust.”
“Trust” i laughed, but a shook slightly as his touch burned higher. “Is that what you call this power play!”
“You tell me.” His mouth brushed my car, sending electricity down my spine “You’re the one who stormed in here challenging my security plan The one who expects me to actually listen.”
“Because I right,”
“Because I trust your judgment.” The admission hung between us, surprisingly vulnerable after so much careful distance. Because somewhere between the bullets and the blood and everything after, you became essential.”
Essental
2D
Chapter New Year
The word echoed in my chest, cracking something in my carefully maintained walk. Because he was right – everything had changed. The assassination attempt had stripped antary our pretenses, forced us to face how much we’d conse to rely on each other.
A knock interrupted whatever dangerous truth might have followed.
“Mr. Romano!” James’s voice carried through the door. The press conference starts in twenty minutes.”
Reality crashed back. We had a campaign to nun, appearances to maintain a careful dance of power and politics to perform.
I pushed again Dante’s chest, needing space before I did something stupid like admit how essential he’d become to me too.
“The security plan,” I managed, straightening my blouse. “We need to-
“Will be revised according to your suggestion.” He stepped back, but his eyes stayed dark with promise. I mean what I said about trusting your judgment.”
“Dangerous admission.” I gathered the blueprints, trying in steady my racing heart. I might start thinking I have seal power here.”
His smile was pure sin. “Maybe you do.”
“Mr. Romano!” James again, more insistent. The reporters are waiting!”
Imoved toward the door, but Dante caught my arms before I could csays.
“Dumer tonight,” he said softly. “We’ll go over the rest of your security concerns,
It wasn’t a request. But it wasnt quite a command either.
“Fine:” I pulled free, refusing to acknowledge how his touch still burned. “But I’m choosing the restaurant. Somewhere public, where you can’t try
distracting me with-”
“With what, cara?” His voice dropped to that dangerous register than
minde
knees weak. “My power plays
“Impossible man.”
His laugh followed me into the hallway. But as I walked away, my mind kept circling back to that word–essential
Partners Egnals. Something terrifyingly close to
No. I couldn’t think that word. Couldn’t admit how seeing him take my security suggestions seriously had made my heart race more than his roch
The campaign office buzzed with nervous energy is stall prepared for the press conference. Three months until election day. Three months to secure his victory, protect his life, maintales this careful balance we’d struck.
My phone buzzed another message from Mark
I deleted it without reading, just like all the others be’d sent since Christmas.
