Page 127 of Seeking Shadows

Not with all these secrets between us.

Because maybe Mia was right.

If my family can’t accept that she’s Nico’s daughter, that she’s here to stay—then there’s no place for me near them.

My loyalty lies with Mia. Always.

Laura Barone’s mansionwas exactly what I expected from someone in the Barone family—and someone married to Pietro Barone. Cold. Imposing.

The kind of place that made you wonder if cracking a bad joke would be the last mistake you ever made. It had an air of royalty, with just enough subtlety to fool some. But not me. I was always on my toes in this place.

I stopped in front of the door, taking a slow breath.

Before I could ring the bell, Laura herself opened it, as if she had been waiting.

"You came quickly," she commented, leaning against the doorframe. Her analytical gaze swept over me, cataloging every decision that had led me here.

"I’m not exactly patient." I crossed my arms. "I just want my wife."

"She's sleeping." Laura pushed the door open wider. "Come in if you want to carry her yourself."

I stepped inside, already calculating the fastest way to get Mia out. Mia was the sweetest, most precious thing in the universe—to me, at least. Her family? Not so much.

Laura didn't seem like the type to care about etiquette, but considering her possessive lunatic of a husband was nearby and I was about to sweep Mia into my arms, I figured a little caution wouldn’t hurt. I could still run if needed, right?

I followed Laura into one of the rooms, where Mia was sprawled out on the couch, curled up like a lazy cat.

I sighed.

Crouching beside her, I slid one arm under her legs and the other around her back, pulling her gently against my chest.

She murmured something incoherent before nuzzling against my collarbone, breathing a satisfied, "Hmm, Zane," as if I were the most comfortable pillow in existence.

I didn’t smile. But it was close.

I stood with Mia in my arms, ready to leave.

And then Pietro Barone appeared.

Shit. I was almost there.

If Laura made this place feel like a psychological trap, Pietro made it feel like a death trap.

He stood in the middle of the hallway, blocking my exit like an immovable monolith. His cold gaze flicked to Mia, sleeping in my arms, then back to me—sharp, assessing, impenetrable.

"If you hurt this girl," his voice was calm, almost casual, "I will rip your soul from your body and watch as it fades into the void."

Mia stirred slightly, mumbling something about waffles into my shoulder.

I blinked.

Laura, standing beside Pietro, crossed her arms and nodded thoughtfully. "Technically, souls aren’t tangible, so extracting one might pose a logistical challenge. But I appreciate the metaphor."

"It’s not a metaphor," Pietro said without blinking. "I’ll find a way."

Fantastic. One scientifically precise Barone and the other homicidal enough to defy the laws of physics through sheer willpower.

"Noted," I said, adjusting Mia in my arms. "Now, if you could all get out of the way..."

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