Page 11 of Bound By Honor

“You dropped it when you heard me come in,” he continues, voice silky. “Careless, Aurora. Very careless.”

“Why were you with her?” The question bursts out before I can stop it. “That close to her death?”

His expression shifts, something dark bleeding through the charm. “Ah, now we get to it. The real reason you’re here.” He moves closer, backing me against the cabinet. “Tell me, what theories are spinning in that pretty head of yours?”

“Alessandro.” Luciano’s voice cuts through the tension like a blade. He stands in the doorway, power radiating from his still form. “Step away from her.”

“Fratello!” Alessandro’s charm snaps back into place. “Just having a chat with our curiousPrincipessa.”

“Aurora.” Luciano’s eyes find mine. “Come here.”

I slip past Alessandro, fighting the urge to run. Luciano’s hand finds the small of my back, steady and warm.

“It’s late,” Luciano says, his tone brooking no argument. “We should all get some rest.”

“Of course.” Alessandro’s smile turns knowing. “Sweet dreams,piccola. Do be careful in these archives—some secrets bite back.”

We wait until his footsteps fade before Luciano turns to me, his expression thunderous. “What were you thinking?”

“I needed answers.” I pull out my phone, showing him the photo I managed to snap. “Look at this. He was with her, Luciano. Right before?—”

“Not here.” His hand closes around mine, warm and calloused. The simple touch sends electricity racing up my arm, making it hard to focus. Damn him for affecting me like this, especially now. “My study. Now.”

The walk feels endless, my body hyper-aware of his presence behind me. His cologne—spice and leather—wraps around me like a dangerous promise. Every shadow holds potential threats, but the real danger might be the way my pulse jumps when his hand brushes my lower back, guiding me forward.

Inside his study, Luciano locks the door before turning to examine the photograph.

“Dio.” His jaw clenches. “When was this taken?”

“Three days before she died.” I move closer, drawn by the raw emotion in his eyes. “Why didn’t you tell me he was with her that day?”

“Because I didn’t know.” His voice roughens. “This was taken at the Rossi compound. What was she doing there?”

“Maybe that’s why he came back.” The pieces start falling into place. “Maybe Maria discovered something?—”

“Stop.” He sets the photo down with careful precision. “This isn’t your mystery to solve, Aurora.”

“Like hell it isn’t!” Heat floods my cheeks. “Alessandro’s playing games with all of us. The way he looked at me in there?—“

“I saw how he looked at you.” Luciano’s control cracks, revealing something fierce beneath. “Which is exactly why you need to stay away from him.”

“I can handle myself.”

“Can you?” He moves closer, his presence making the room feel smaller. “You have no idea what he’s capable of.”

“Then tell me!” I step into his space, frustration overriding caution. “Stop trying to protect me and just tell me the truth!”

His hands come up to frame my face, the touch sending electricity through my veins. My body recognizes his before my mind can object, leaning into his warmth even as warning bells sound in my head. His cologne surrounds me—spice and leather and danger—making my head spin with forbidden want.

“I protect you because I have to. Because if anything happened to you?—”

A knock at the door cuts him off. We freeze, his hands still cradling my face, our breaths mingling in the charged air between us.

“Fratello?” Alessandro’s voice filters through the wood. “I thought I might find you here. We need to talk.”

Luciano’s eyes lock with mine, a silent battle raging behind them. His thumbs brush my cheeks once before he steps back, control sliding back into place.

“Hide,” he mouths, gesturing to his private bathroom.

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