Page 77 of Stalk Me

“Stay,” he says softly. “Not forever. Just let me know you, my daughter. Let me share what’s left of my life with you.”

I lower into the sleek leather chair, processing his words. The gallery can run without me for a while. My assistant is more than capable. And Nikolai...

“How long?” I ask.

“A few weeks? A month?” His green-gold eyes shine with hope. “My villa has an excellent art collection. And Florence...” He gestures to the window. “The birthplace of the Renaissance. Your expertise would be welcome here.”

My throat tightens. How can I say no? This man gave up everything to protect me as a child. Now he’s choosing me again, defying his father to support my freedom.

“Okay,” I whisper. “I’ll stay. For a little while.”

The smile that lights up his face makes my decision worth it. He pulls me into another embrace, and I don’t hesitate to hug him back.

29

NIKOLAI

Istep off the jet onto Italian soil, my jaw clenched tight enough to crack teeth. The Tuscan sun beats down as my team falls behind me, each man hand-picked for this operation.

“The hotel’s secured?” I ask Erik as we stride toward the waiting vehicles.

“Top floor, full sweep completed an hour ago. Clear sight lines to Mario’s estate.”

I nod, sliding into the black Mercedes.

“Alexi has their security patterns?”

“Four shifts, rotating every six hours. Heavy presence at all entry points.” Dmitri hands me a tablet with detailed schematics.

The drive through Florence’s narrow streets sets my teeth on edge. Every minute feels like an eternity, knowing she’s so close. I immediately head to the window overlooking Mario’s estate when we arrive at the hotel. Through binoculars, I scan the grounds, counting guards and noting positions.

“She’s in there.” I lower the binoculars, my voice hard. “Somewhere behind those walls, that old bastard is trying to turn her against me.”

“We could go in now,” Erik suggests. “Hit them before they expect it.”

“No.” I trace the estate’s perimeter with my finger on the window. “We wait until dark. I want complete control of the situation when we take her back.”

The team unpacks our gear with practiced efficiency. Weapons, tactical equipment, communication devices—everything we need to breach a fortress. I check my watch. There are six hours until sunset.

“Mario will regret ever touching her.” My reflection in the window shows a dangerous glint in my eyes. “Set up surveillance. I want eyes on every entrance. No one goes in or out without us knowing.”

“Sir.” One of my men bursts through the door. “You need to see this.”

He grabs the remote and switches on the massive television mounted on the wall. The screen flickers to life, showing a press conference outside the Castellano estate. My blood runs cold as I see Mario standing at a podium, cameras flashing.

“Today marks a historic moment for the Castellano family,” Mario’s voice carries through the speakers. “After years of separation, my granddaughter Sofia has returned home.”

The remote creaks in my grip. Behind me, I hear Dmitri curse in Russian.

“It gives me great pleasure to announce Sofia as the official heir to the Castellano empire. Her father’s condition has made this decision necessary, and we believe she possesses all the qualities needed to lead our family into the future.”

Cameras pan to Sofia standing beside him. She’s wearing a tailored cream suit, her hair swept up elegantly. But I know her face, the slight tension around her eyes, and how her fingers clench at her sides. She’s uncomfortable.

“This is a calculated move,” Alexi says from his laptop. “He’s making it public to ensure she can’t disappear again. Any action we take now will be highly visible.”

I watch Mario place his hand on Sofia’s shoulder, presenting her as a prized possession. “The Castellano name will continue through her, stronger than ever.”

“Fuck.” I slam my fist against the wall. This changes everything. A simple extraction is no longer possible because Mario’s just put her in the spotlight. Every news outlet in Italy will be watching her now.

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