Page 127 of Empire of Temptation

“Valentina.” He rubbed his eyes with his fingers, then dropped his hands on the table again. “I was trying to find your father to make all of this go away. But I can’t stay here. I must return home and deal with Rossi. If I don’t do it soon, he will try to kill me—or your father. Maybe both.”

“Five minutes!” Maggie called from the bar.

He dragged a hand through his hair, messing the thick strands. “Don’t do this. I am crazy about you. I would rather cut off my own arm than hurt you. Te lo prometto, bella.”

Maybe it was true. Maybe he wasn’t lyingthis time.

But I couldn’t risk my entire life on a maybe.

And he didn’t love me—he just didn’t want to lose me.

As I hesitated, he moved in, shifting closer until we were nearly touching. “When I learned that your father took you I nearly lost it. I’ve never been so scared in all my life. I promised a favor to an American police detective in exchange for information, for fuck’s sake. I would have done anything to find you.” He exhaled and dragged his knuckles along my cheek. His gentle touch sent a flight of butterflies loose in my chest. Softly, he said, “I need you, amore. I am nothing without you.”

“Hands off!” Maggie yelled from across the room, and her sobering voice shook off whatever spell he was weaving on my heart and mind.

Clarity returned and I took a step back. “My answer is no. And we’re done here.”

Luca’s hand fell to the wooden tabletop. “I’m leaving tonight. I hope you change your mind. But if you don’t, you are always welcome in Catanzaro—even if it takes months. In the meantime, I’m leaving Gabriele here to look after you.”

“You don’t need to do that. I don’t want your son spying on me for you.”

“He is not a spy. He will keep you safe so that I don’t worry. You hold my heart and my soul, fiore mio. Per sempre.”

Forever.

When I didn’t respond he rapped his knuckles twice on the table, like an exclamation point to his words. I watched him walk toward the exit in the reflection, his proud shoulders shifting with every step. My chest ached as anger and hurt and longing all battled inside me.

But I knew with a deep-down certainty I was doing the right thing. I had to distance myself from whatever mess my father and Luca were involved in. Their problems were not my problems. I had enough to deal with on my own.

And I would never forgive Luca for lying to me—no matter how much I missed him.

An arm wrapped around my shoulders. “I’m proud of you,” Maggie said, resting her head against mine. “For a minute there I thought you were going to cave.”

“Me too,” I said shakily, my eyes welling up again. God, I was so tired of crying.

“Aw, don’t cry, babe. We’ll get through this, exactly like we’ve been doing for the last few years.”

“He wanted me to come live with him in Italy.”

She snorted and tightened her hold on me. “I guess we should be grateful he asked instead of kidnapping you.”

I let out a wobbly laugh. “Yeah, I guess. Wow, my life is fucked up.”

“No,hislife is fucked up. He just dragged you into it for a few weeks. But now you’ve escaped, thank god. You dodged a bullet, Val. Maybe literally, considering his line of work.”

I put my arm around her and we stared out at the vineyard stretching out across the landscape. “Thanks for everything, Mags. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Probably drink really shitty wine and have a lot less fun.”

“Can I hang out here for a few more hours?”

“Girl, we are day drinking starting at noon. You’re not going anywhere.”

Luca

A man like me was not inclined to hope. I dealt in cold, hard realities within a world that rewarded neither fairness nor forgiveness. I knew the cruelties man had to offer, as I was often the one doling them out. And I knew my end would not be gentle or banal. Such was the life I had chosen.

And yet, I’d hoped.

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