Page 27 of Hot Moves

Luca places a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “We’ll handle it, Lorenzo. You focus on Mira right now. Let us do the groundwork.”

I nod, clenching and unclenching my fists to dispel some of the residual tension. “Thank you.”

They turn to leave, but Luca pauses, looking back at me. “She’s strong, Lorenzo. She’ll pull through this. And we’ll make sure nothing like this happens again.”

I nod again, appreciating his words but feeling the weight of my own fears and responsibilities pressing heavily on my shoulders. As they walk away, I take a moment to gather myself, leaning against the cool wall and taking deep breaths.

The thought of losing Mira, of her being in harm’s way because of me, is unbearable. I’ve built an empire, navigated treacherous waters, and faced countless threats, but nothing compares to the raw, visceral fear of seeing her hurt.

I straighten and push off the wall before making my way back to the room. The door opens quietly, and I step inside, the sight of Mira’s sleeping form bringing a rush of conflicting emotions. Relief, protectiveness, and a steely resolve flow through my soul as I resolve to keep her safe no matter what.

I sit back down beside her, taking her hand in mine once more, and feel the warmth and the faint thrum of her pulse. The day’s events replay in my mind, but beneath the fear and the wrath lies the clear, undeniable truth. I love my little bambolina and will protect her with every ounce of my being.

No one will ever harm her again while I draw breath.

As the night deepens, I stay by her side, my mind a razor-sharp focus on the days ahead. There will be answers, there will be justice, and through it all, Mira will know that she’s safe with me, no matter the cost.

For now, though, I take solace in her presence, grounding myself in the simplicity of her touch and the love that binds us for all eternity.

SIXTEEN

MIRA

It's beena week since I was released from the hospital, and while the luxury and comfort of the penthouse have been a blessing, Lorenzo's overprotectiveness is driving me nuts.

I appreciate his concern, but enough is enough. Every little twitch I make is met with a flurry of questions or an insistentoffer to help. As I sit on the couch, flipping aimlessly through a magazine, I can feel Lorenzo's eyes on me from across the room.

"Do you need anything, bambolina? Water? A pillow?" he asks for the gazillionth time this morning.

I take a deep breath, trying to keep my voice gentle. "I'm fine. Really."

He walks over, a frown etched on his otherwise handsome face. "Are you sure? Maybe you should lie down and rest a bit more."

I close the magazine and look up at him, struggling to maintain my composure. "I’ve been resting for days. I need to move around and do something."

The concern in his eyes is genuine, but it's also suffocating. "The doctor said you need to take it easy. You need time to heal."

"Look," I say, standing up from the couch and facing him directly. "I know you're worried, but I'm feeling better. I need some normalcy, something to keep me from going stir-crazy. You hovering over me every second is driving me insane."

He opens his mouth to protest, but I cut him off, my frustration finally bubbling over. "Don’t you have a crime family to run? Surely there’s something you have to do. Go order a murder or something." I throw my hands up in the air out of frustration. We’ve never discussed his job, and I know there are probably things he does that I don’t want to know about. This is the closest we’ve come to discussing specifics.

His eyes narrow. "Anyone in particular you’d like me to have taken care of?"

It’s a scary thought. And it’s definitely time to change the subject. "Not really," I say, my tone more serious as I step closerand place a hand on his arm. "But I can’t lie, it’s weird knowing you have the power to do it."

He takes a deep breath, and I can see the internal struggle playing out behind his eyes. Finally, he nods, albeit reluctantly. "There’s still a lot for us to learn about each other." Boy, that’s an understatement. “But I do know I couldn’t live without you. You’re more important than breathing to me.”

"I feel the same way about you," I say, smiling up at him.

“Good, then say you’ll marry me and put me out of my misery. Ever since the moment you got in the accident, I was worried you’d finally have enough of my crazy life and leave me.”

I blink up at him in shock. I had no idea he was thinking anything so silly. There’s no way I could ever live without the other half of my soul. “I could never leave you.” I wrap my arms around his waist and snuggle against his muscular chest. “I love you too much.”

“I love you more than life itself, bambolina.” He kisses my forehead. We stand there for a moment, the tension between us easing slightly as his strong heartbeat pounds against my face. I can see how much he cares and how deeply my well-being affects him, and it tugs at my heart.

"I guess I’ll have to take one for the team and marry you," I tease as if it isn’t the most exciting idea, I’ve ever heard.

He smirks down at me with all his usual cockiness evident. "I’m glad to know you’re so team-oriented. I could probably use your skills in our business dealings."

---