Page 111 of Sin & Sapphire

Ana stiffened and stepped away from the other woman, letting go of her hands. “Sofia,” she murmured, the nervous tremble in her voice barely perceptible.

I tied the robe around Ana’s waist and tugged her back against my torso, unwilling to let these interlopers gaze upon Ana’s beauty.

“Luca called,” Sofia continued. “He’s worried.”

I waited, furious at how uncertain I was of Ana’s response, wishing we’d had more time to train her, to break her, so there’d be no doubt in her mind who she belonged to.

“He should be,” Ana answered tartly. “Chloe tried to commit suicide-by-mouthiness.Twice.”

I blinked, my shock at Ana’s loyalty rendering me speechless.

“How are you?” Sofia asked, cupping her friend’s cheek, as if she had a right to touch what was mine. My fingers clenched on my thighs. Murdering Sofia Russo to keep her quiet if Ana said something fucking stupid, like she didn’t belong to me, like she wasn’t mine, wasn’t an option.

But if Ana walked out of here with her, I might do it anyway—whatever it took to keep my angel in my arms and in my life.

Ana raised an eyebrow. “I’m fine. I’d be better if Angelo and I could replace my wardrobe in peace, like we wanted to.”

Sofia’s gaze turned to me, her midnight blue eyes icy cool. The women were so similar—utterly in control of themselves and master manipulators. But where Sofia ran cold, Ana was hot hot hot. And I fuckin’ loved it.

“Come home with me,” Sofia said. “I’ll give you anything you need in the short term, and then we can figure out what’s next.”

Ana’s posture softened, and she pulled Sofia in for a hug. “I love you. But we still can’t talk about the family business together. Not yet. Not until—” She cut herself off and pulled away from Sofia, straightening her shoulders. “Not until the future of the Costa empire is certain,” she said firmly.

Sofia nodded, her mouth pressed into an unhappy line. I was so fucking proud of my girl as she told the most powerful woman in Yorkfield that she didn’t need her help.

Sofia looked Ana up and down, then looked at me, still disheveled from my earlier release, and twisted her lips with amusement.

“I thought you weren’t into kink,” she murmured.

Ana’s full-throated laugh surprised the fuck out of me. It was glorious, like church bells ringing out, and I knew I wanted more of that. Even more than I wanted her on her knees.

“So did I,” she said, grinning, and relief cracked through the pressure that had been growing in my chest.

Sofia turned around and gestured through the door. I couldn’t believe her husband let her enter the room with me unarmed and by herself.

Dante Oscuro’s presence filled the dressing area, menacing. Ana’s shoulders stiffened, and I moved to stand between them. He and I had crossed paths a few times before. It was hard not to when we were both in the business of murder. I didn’t like the suspicious way he looked at Ana.

I supposed he didn’t like the suspicious way I eyed his wife, either.

“Um,” Chloe said, “could you maybe pay for those clothes before it turns into a bloodbath in here?”

Sofia fought to hide her smile. She leaned forward to kiss Ana on the cheek. “Come over to dinner tonight.”

I scoffed. “Your husband murdered her father. This asshole,” I gestured at Dante, “was there.”

As was I. I hadn’t stopped it. Gio Costa was a scumbag, and he deserved what happened to him.

“I have an empire to rebuild,” Ana said quietly. “An empire that your family is responsible for destroying. There can be no public forgiveness. Not yet.”

An empire to rebuild. Fuck, Ana was all in, and I hardened again at the thought of her conquering Yorkfield at my side.

“You know you’ll always have a safe harbor with us,” Dante told her. I bristled until Ana laid her hand on my arm.

“A safe harbor isn’t what I need right now, Oscuro.”

She embraced Sofia once again.

“How can I get in touch with you?” Sofia demanded. “You don’t answer your phone.”

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