Page 36 of Code Name: Dante

“There’s always DNA,” I suggested.

“Good thinking. I know Vincent’s is already in the system.”

“If I got mine done, would you have access to his?”

“Even if I didn’t, I’d find a way.” He pointed to the ceiling. “I have faith that Alice could get her hands on it if no one else.”

Alessandro was a man who’d risked everything to expose corruption in his own family and who’d dedicated his life to protecting others. Who looked at me like I was something precious even though I came with more complications than either of us had imagined.

As hard as it was, until we knew for sure, I couldn’t allow myself to think about how much I wished I could lean up and kiss the guy who, a few days ago, I’d tried hard to keep my distance from. Was it the forbidden that made me want it so much more? I’d never thought of myself as someone who would react that way. From what I’d heard, my mother would have.

“I’m scared,” I admitted, stopping short of explaining that what I feared most was that this thing between us might be destroyed by our families’ shared past.

“I know.” He drew me closer, and I let myself lean against him. His arm wrapped around me felt so solid and secure. “But I’m not going anywhere.”

We sat in comfortable silence. The steady beat of his heart under my ear was more soothing than any tea could be. My eyes grew heavy as the tension of the day finally began to fade.

Just as I was drifting off, a sharp crack from outside made us both jerk upright. Alessandro was on his feet in an instant, one hand reaching for his weapon while the other pushed me behind him.

Tank’s voice crackled over the radio on the coffee table. “Movement on the lake. Two boats, running dark. They got close but turned around.”

“I see them,” Alessandro responded after moving to the windows. I followed, catching glimpses of shadows—shapes without lights moving across the water.

“Teams are in position,” Tank reported. “Want us to intercept?”

Alessandro studied the lake for a long moment. “No. Let them think we haven’t spotted them. But I want eyes on the water around the clock now.” He turned to me. “You should try to get some rest.”

“So should you.”

A ghost of a smile touched his lips. “I will. Soon.”

We both knew it was a lie. He’d stay up all night if that’s what it took to keep everyone safe. The thought made my chest ache with emotions I wasn’t ready to name.

I reached up and straightened his collar where it had gone askew, letting my fingers linger. “Thank you. For everything.”

His hand caught mine again, holding it against his chest. For a moment, I thought he might kiss me. Part of me hoped he would, even with the possibility we were related. Instead, he brought my fingers to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss to my knuckles that somehow felt more intimate than anything else could have been.

“Good night, Lark.”

I nodded once, then made my way down the hallway, my hand still tingling where his lips had touched. Sleep might still elude me, but for different reasons now. Reasons that had nothing to do with fear or family secrets, and everything to do with the way Alessandro Castellano looked at me like I was worth protecting, worth fighting for. Worth risking everything for.

Morning came too soon,its gold light streaming through the windows as I made my way to the kitchen. Gram was already there, methodically chopping vegetables for an omelet as though we were at home rather than hiding from threats we didn’t fully understand.

“You were up late,” she said without looking up.

“Couldn’t sleep.” I filled the electric kettle and turned it on. “Bad dreams.”

“About the shop, little bird?”

“Among other things. I’ve decided it would be best not to try to open today.”

While I anticipated an argument, Gram merely nodded.

I hesitated, then decided to try again to see if I could get her to talk. “About what you said yesterday?—”

“I think we need more eggs.” She set down her knife.

“Gram—”

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