Page 40 of The Shadow King's Brother

By the time I reach the threshold, my mother is already gone.

* * *

As I stepout of the coffee shop, the night air bites at my cheeks, but I barely feel it.

I’m caught in a mix of emotions—relief that the meeting is over, a deep sadness for the year we lost, and something else… something like a fragile spark of possibility.

But it’s so faint, so easily snuffed out, I almost miss it.

I feel split. Hesitant. Lost.

And maybe—just maybe—a little bit ready to believe again.

My phone buzzes. It’s a text from Elio.

‘Need you now. Bad.’

The words hit low,a deep, almost painful throb of want.

An image of him—possessive, burning—flares in my mind, and my skin prickles with a sudden, electric heat.

I find my car and climb in, starting the engine. My hand tightens on the steering wheel. My jaw locks.

The engine growls—a low, rough sound that mirrors the tension coiled between my legs.

I quickly type out a message, my fingers trembling with anticipation.

‘On my way.And I’m gonna make you wait.’

Then I hitsend and pull into the street.

Chapter7

Elio De Luca

The house is quiet;the only sound is the gentle ticking of my grandfather clock in the hall. I stand by the fireplace, two champagne glasses on the side table, wishing she was here already.A sharp, possessive, selfish need to hold her overwhelms me, stealing my breath.

Snap out of it.

A sharp and insistent headache sneaks up behind my eyes as I rub the bridge of my nose, my thoughts circling back to the Broad Corporation. I barely got to a list of names leading nowhere; I found some cover-up companies, which makes the whole thing feel fishy.

There’s something more here that I am not seeing. I need to find the owner, but the task feels impossible. Whoever they are, they don’t want to be found, which makes perfect sense for a money-laundering operation.Damn.

The front door opens, and Nica enters, shaking me out of my thoughts. She looks beautifully disheveled, like she’s been through a hurricane, and somehow came out even more beautiful. Her dark hair is tangled, falling across her eyes. She steps inside, her gaze meeting mine, and I reach for her.

“There you are,” I say and greet her. I pull her close and plant a soft kiss on her lips.

My fingers brush something damp and sticky on her elbow, and a cold dread runs through me. Is that blood?

I cup her face, studying her elbow, my thumb tracing the area. “Are you hurt?” I ask.

She leans in, grabbing my suit, her fingers curling in the fabric. “I’m fine,” she murmurs, pushing my hand away. “I need you, Elio, now.” She leans in, meeting my lips with that fire I love.

She’s distracting me.

I manage to push her back. “Are you okay? What happened?” I ask, my hands gripping her shoulders.

“Yes, I just need…release,” she whispers, her eyes dark, pleading.

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