“What are you thinking about?” I ask, curiosity getting the better of me.
He looks down at me, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “How different things could have been. If I hadn’t…”
I wait, but he doesn’t finish. I know what he means though. If he hadn’t agreed to my father’s marriage deal and pursued me relentlessly. If I hadn’t slowly fallen for the man behind the ruthless facade.
“We’re here now,” I say softly, squeezing his hand. “That’s what matters.”
Dante pulls me close, his arms wrapping around me as we watch the sun sink below the horizon. I lean into him, feeling safe and wanted in a way I never expected when this all began.
* * *
The next morning, I wake to Dante’s lips on my shoulder. “Ready for an adventure?” he murmurs against my skin.
My heart quickens. “What kind of adventure?”
“Snorkeling,” he says, a boyish grin lighting up his face. It’s an expression I rarely see, and it makes him look years younger.
An hour later after freshing up and breakfast, we’re wading into crystal-clear water. The warmth envelops me as I adjust my mask.
“Stay close,” Dante instructs, his hand on the small of my back.
I nod, fighting a mix of excitement and nervousness. As we submerge, a whole new world opens up beneath us. Vibrant fish dart between coral formations, their scales glittering in the filtered sunlight.
Dante points out a sea turtle gliding by, its movements graceful and unhurried. I reach for his hand, overwhelmed by the beauty surrounding us.
We surface briefly, and I can’t contain my joy. “This is incredible!” I exclaim, pushing wet hair from my face.
Dante’s eyes crinkle at the corners. “You’re incredible,” he says, pulling me close for a salty kiss.
Later, as we dry off on the beach, I feel a lightness I haven’t experienced in years. “I never knew you liked this kind of thing,” I admit.
Dante shrugs, looking almost sheepish. “There’s a lot we’re still learning about each other.”
I nod, struck by the truth of his words. “Maybe that’s not such a bad thing.”
He raises an eyebrow. “No?”
“No,” I confirm, reaching for a handful of sand. “It means we get to keep surprising each other.”
Before he can react, I’ve dumped the sand on his leg, giggling at his mock-outraged expression.
“Oh, it’s on,” he growls playfully, lunging for me.
We spend the next hour building and destroying sandcastles, laughing like children. For a moment, we’re just Adriana and Dante – not a crime boss and his wife, not pawns in a dangerous game. Just us, finding joy in each other’s company.
As the sun begins to set, the sky blushing with the soft hues of twilight, casting a gentle glow over the horizon, I reluctantly stand up. “We should probably start getting ready for dinner,” I say, dusting sand from my legs.
Dante nods, a mischievous glint in his eye. “Race you back to the villa?”
I laugh, already sprinting across the beach. “You’re on!”
We dash through the soft sand, our laughter carried on the gentle breeze.
Back at the villa, we take a quick shower and start getting ready. I slip into a sleek black dress, the fabric clinging to my curves. As I fasten a delicate necklace, I catch sight of my reflection. The woman staring back at me looks different somehow. Stronger. More confident.
Dante appears behind me, looking devastatingly handsome in a tailored suit. His eyes roam appreciatively over my form.
“You’re breathtaking,” he says, pressing a kiss to my bare shoulder.