Chapter 47–Paper Hearts
Lucia
Pass the bread, Romano, Ant in called from across the massive dining table, using Dante’s surname but without the mual venous My youngest brother had finally stopped reaching for his gun every tane Dante entered a moon, which I counted as progress.
“Only if you adma the Romanna make better wine thou the Valentinis,” Dante shot bark, but his smirk hell gemine amusement ashe handed over
the basket.
“Never.” Amonio tore into a piece of crusty Italian licead. “Edither drink poison
“That can be arranged,” Danir murmured, making me elbow him sharply unsler the table.
Marco, ever the peacekeeper, cleared his throat. “The harbor project numbers came in Impressive work, both of you.”
“The partnership benefits everyone,” Papa said from the head of the table, and something in his voice made me look up sharply. He was watching Dante and ine with an expression senmething close to conteniment,
“Simple business sense,” Dante replied smoothly, ben luis hanal found mine under the table, fingers linking with practiced ease.
The gesture felt natural now, like breathing like belonging.
“Busincu” Leo sported into his wine, “Is that what we’re calling it when you nearly slani Chen’s enforcer for looking at our sister wrong
Heat nished to my cheeks as Dante’s fingers tightened slightly on mine. The incident had made quite a stir in our circles – the usually controlled Romana heir displaying decidedly possessive behavior in public.
“Chen’s men need to learn respect,” Dante said quietly, but that dangerous edge in his voice made my brothers exchange knowing looks.
“And you’ll teach them!” Antonio’s grin turned wicked. “How very–protective of you?
“Someone has to watch our sister’s back.” Marco added with deceptive mildness. “Since she’s so good at finding trouble.”
“I do not find trouble,” I protested. “Trouble finds me.”
“Like that time with the Russan? Leo smirked.
“Or the casino incidem? Antonia clumed in
“Or last week’s charity gal” Marco finished,
“All perfectly handled situations,” I sniffed, but couldn’t quite
my smile
as my brothers dissolved into laughter.
Even Papa chuckled, the sound warming something in my chest. It had beenno long since he’d Laughed like that, since our family dinners felt like
more than careful strategy sessions.
–“My wife is quite capable of handling hersell” Donte said, that note of pride in his voice making my pulse jump, “Though I prefer she let me handie
arry furure Russian situations.”
at up. “Not your business partner anymore?”
“Your wife?” Antonio’s eyebrows shot up.
Something flickered in Dante’s eyes, but before he could respond. Papa raised his glass. “To partnerships,” he said nsemingfully. “Of all kinds”
The toast felt weighted with understanding none of us were quite ready to voler.
Later, as we walked through the mansion’s familiar halls, Dante’s hand settled on my lower back with practiced possessiveness. “Your brothers are actually bring civil.“
“Miracle of miracles.” I leaned into his touch despite myself. Though Antonio might still shoot you if given enough provocation”
“He cantry.” Dante’s smile held shadows and promises that shouldn’t have made heat pool in my belly. “Your father seems… different.”
“He likes you,” I admitted. ”
= “God haelp us all *
In laugh rumbled through his chest as we reached las car, Taylor appearing silently to open doors with professional efficiency. The drive back to the prothouse passed uncomfortable silence, city lights blurring past like Ellen stars.
“I need to handle some paperwork,” Dande said as we entered our hour and when had I started thinking of it as ours” “Campaign statements for tomorrow’s press conference”
“TI be in my study.” Thicked off dangerous heels with practiced ease. The foundation’s annual report needs reviewing
His kas brushed my temple, surprisingly gentle after the possessive display an duiner. “Don’t work too late, cara”
I’d just ended at my desk when I realized I needed the charity audit files from last quarter. They’d be in Dante’s office, probably filed with the harbor project paperwork since the foundation was handling worker training programs.
1 padded down the hallway in stockinged feet, not bothering to knock since I heard him on a call through the partially open door. But as I reachedd for the filing cabinet, a folder caught my eye.
Expensive paper, offic
My fingers mosed before conscious thought, pulling the file free. The first contract’s legal language made my heart stop:
“AGREEMENT OF MUTUAL BENEFIT AND DISCRETION”
The terma load out a calculated approach to intimacy that made my stomachtum – scheduled encounter, mqulily allowances, strict rules against emotimal attachment Every aspect of passion endarsli
d’in clinical bullet points and legal parameter.
Chapter 47–Paper Hearts
More contracts spilled from the folder, dozens sparming years. Each one following the same cold template: three to six month durations, substantial financial compensation, ironclad NDA. Women’s names changed but Dante’s systematic approach remained consistent controlling every aspect of intimacy through contractual obligation.
“Any emotional attachment constitutes grounds for immediate termination.
“Physical encounters limited to pre–approved locations and schedules…”
My hands shook as I read.
“Find what you’re looking for!”
I spun to find Dante filling the doorway, his usual predatory grace tumed dangerous. How long had he been watching me? How much had be seen? “I was looking for the audit files,” I sand, proud of how steady my voice remained despite the chaos in my chest. “Found something else entirely.” “Clearly,” His eyes tracked to the papers in my hands, something unreadable crossing his face. “Those are private business matters.”
“Business” I couldn’t quite keep the bitterness from my voice. “Is that what you call it? These women, these arrangements…just more contracts to he negotiated?”
He moved into the office with deliberate care. Those are from before-
“Before what?” I out in, anger rising hot and fast. “Before you decided to expand into political marriagest before you needed a more permanent smangement for your campaign?”
“You know that’s not —
“Do I?” I gestured with the papers, hating how my hands shook slightly. “Because from where I’m standing, this looks exactly like your standard operating procedure. Find a woman who suits your needs, draw up a contract, provide compensation for services rendered…”
“Stop” His voice carned that edge of command that usually made my pulse rare. Now it just made me angrier.
“Why! Hiring too close to home!
“None of them. They are the past. Lucia.”
“Pretty words.” But even I heard the waver in my voice. “You’re good at those. Very convincing. I’m sure they all
His mouth crashed into mine. His hands tangled in my hair as he backed me against his desk, somehow both ernale and demanding as he devoured my protests.
I shoved against his chest, breaking the kiss. “No.”
“Luca—”
“Don’t. This is exactly what I mean. You can’t just… kiss away complications. Use passion to avoid real answers.”
“Is that what you think I’m doing?” His voice had gone dangerous soft.
“I think you’re very good as giving people what they want to hear.” I straightened my clothes with hands that weren’t quite steady. “At making them. feel special, chosen, different from all the others. There’s probably a whole section about it in those contracts.”
The timing.”
“You haven’t read them very carefully then.” He picked up one of the scattered papers, holding it out. “Look at the termination dates. T
“I don’t want to–”
Something in his voice made me take the paper. The date jumped out inunediately–three years ago, almost to the day. The next contract showed a similar pattem. And the next
“They all ended.” he said quietly. “the day I met you”
The admission hung between us, heavy with implications neither of us was ready to face.
“That doesn’t change anything.” I said finally. “Don’t. Dan’t touch me. I backed toward the door. “Just don’t.”
The contracts scattered across his office floor seemed to mock me as I ran
