Page 62 of Obsession & Oath

A lazy, knowing smile curves his lips. “Come out with me.”

I blink. “What?”

“Montecroce,” he says. “Let me show you the city.”

I hesitate—but only for a second.

And then I nod.

Chapter17

Dante

Montecroce is as stunning as I remember. I still know every alley, every twist and turn, like the back of my hand, even though I haven’t bothered to visit since we arrived.

I breathe in the familiar scent of fresh pastries mixed with the earthy undertones of old stone, and there’s a small, smug part of me that takes great pleasure in being the one to show my old home to Carmen.

She walks beside me, her smile blooming as she takes in everything around her. It’s clear she’s soaking up every inch of the town.

The sunlight dances across her face, lighting up the curves of her cheekbone. It makes her skin glow like something otherworldly. I can’t help but glance at her a little more than I should.

“So, what do you think?” I ask.

She doesn’t look at me immediately, but when she does, there’s that mischievous glint in her eyes. “I thought you said Montecroce was boring.”

I smirk. “It was. Back then, anyway.”

“What’s changed?” she teases. “Please don’t tell me it’s the company.”

I raise an eyebrow, a smirk playing on my lips. “You wouldn’t be wrong.”

“That’s so cheesy,” she says, eyes scanning the intricate details of a nearby building. “I thought maybe you’d be slightly less insufferable now, but I guess that’s on me.”

I chuckle, nudging her shoulder with mine. “And here I thought I was being romantic.”

She looks at me out of the corner of her eye, a playful smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. “You’re not as charming as you think, Grasso.”

I lean in slightly, lowering my voice so only she can hear. “That’s a shame. I thought I was your type.”

Her lips quirk again. “You’re not, but I’m starting to think you’re growing on me.”

The words strike something deep inside me. I try to ignore the feeling, focusing instead on the town, steering us through the narrow streets.

“So,” she says, catching my attention. “What was this place like when you were a kid?”

“You’re asking me to take a stroll down memory lane, huh?”

“You’re the one that invited me out, remember?”

“All Right,” I say with a sigh, leading her down a small, winding street that’s lined with vines crawling up the side of tall stone walls. “Well, for starters, these streets were a lot emptier. There weren’t so many tourists back then.”

“Easier for little Dante Grasso to cause havoc running through these streets, you mean?”

I let out a huff of laughter. “Why do you always assume the worst of me?”

“Because it’s nearly always the correct assumption,” she teases.

“Nearly always?”

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