Page 25 of Savage Prince

Her brows crinkle, just like they did when Antonio alluded to my imprisonment downstairs. I guess she had no idea what she was getting into when her old employer summoned her to the villa.

Maybe I could get her to help me.

I open my mouth to ask, but the shuffle of approaching footsteps clamps my jaw shut. From over my shoulder and through the wispy linen curtains, I can just make out Antonio stalking toward us.

“This room, really, Mariuccia?” he growls.

Her shoulders lift innocently, a knowing smile on her weathered face. “It has the best view of the lake.”

“This isn’t a fucking hotel. Serena is my pr—” He snaps his jaw shut as the housekeeper’s eyes widen in horror.

“Scusi,” he mutters, gaze cast down to the marble floor.

“Antonio Ferrara, your mother would be appalled by that language and this poor girl?—”

He lifts his hand. “Enough. Perhaps I made a mistake having Nero call you here. I’m not the same little boy you knew all those years ago, Mariuccia.” His icy stare flickers in my direction before returning to the woman. “Serena Valentino is the key to salvaging whatPapàspent years building, and I won’t let anyone derail me from achieving my goal.”

The elderly woman glances between Antonio and me, the pity in her expression palpable. But was it for me or the little boy she once knew?

“Now, should I have Nero return you to your home?”

She shakes her head, calmly, resolutely. “No, Tonio. I owe it to your mother to stay. After all that she did for me and my family, it is the least I can do.”

His head dips, jaw tense. “We won’t remain here for long. If all goes as planned, Serena’s father will agree to my terms in the morning and all of this ugly business will be over in a few days.”

“Bene.” Mariuccia’s chin dips. “There are fresh towels in the bathroom as instructed. Is there anything else I can get you,signore?” Her tone is frostier than his.

“No,” he mutters. “Elena should be arriving shortly. Will you please see to it that she is escorted to Serena’s room upon her arrival?”

“To this room?” I interject.

He eyes me as if he’s forgotten I was here.

“Yes, fine, you can stay in the master suite.”

I can’t help the satisfied smile from crawling across my lips. No wonder he’s so pissy. This was supposed to be his room. And just like that I’m absolutely loving Mariuccia.

He marches back into the bedroom and swings his gaze toward a door along the far wall. “I’ll take the adjoining room.”

“Adjoining?” I splutter.

“You didn’t think I’d let you stay by yourself, now, did you,tesoro? Such a valuable prize must be protected at all costs.”

His fathomless, obsidian eyes heat, and I hate how my body reacts to that look. An ember ignites, faint at first but with the potential to burn down an entire village.

Mariuccia must feel the intense shift in the atmosphere because she lowers her head and makes a beeline toward the door. “I’ll have your luggage brought up,” she calls out over her shoulder.

Once we’re alone, Antonio steps closer and I mirror his move backwards. His eyes lock on mine and a flash of something indecipherable streaks across the endless night of those piercing orbs. As if he’s finally realized what he’s done, he heaves in a breath and knots his arms across his chest.

“It’s too late to call your father tonight. I’ll see to it first thing in the morning.”

“Yeah, we sure wouldn’t want Pa cranky when you tell him you’ve stolen his only child.”

“I already told you, this isn’t about you. Dante did this. He conspired with my enemy, the Sartoris, to dismantle my father’s entire organization. This is all his doing.”

Shit. I knew that deal with Enrico Sartori was going to come back and bite us in the ass. Only I thought it would be Isabella to pay the price. Uncle Luca is going to be furious with my dad, and he deserves every ounce of his wrath.

“Wait a second, Isabella said something about your father making moves in King territory in Manhattan. Wasn’t he the one that started all of this?”

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