Page 78 of Ruined By Capture

"Actually," she says, calm and level, "I did it without being particularly afraid of him finding out."

Matteo raises an eyebrow. "Antonio Lombardi? The man who tracks his own shadow?"

Melania's lips curve into a small, triumphant smile. "First, I arranged everything just hours before the wedding. There wasn't time for him to notice anything unusual. Second, I used an anonymous chat service that specializes in finding the right person for whatever you’re willing to pay for."

"Dark web?" Noah asks.

"Something like that," Melania acknowledges. "The only time I was truly nervous was making sure no one realized the person who took the chauffeur's place wasn't one of my father's men."

I think about how I found her, dressed in white, slipping into what she thought was her escape vehicle. The fucking irony that I was waiting instead.

I'm about to talk when Ginerva bustles in, her normally serene expression slightly flustered.

"Signor Damiano sends his apologies. He'll be a few minutes late—he's on a longer conversation than he expected with Signora Zoe." She says.

Enzo snorts, leaning back in his chair. "Longer conversation is one way to put it. Lucrezia is fucking furious."

Melania glances at me, then back to Enzo with interest.

"Why?" Matteo asks, reaching for his water glass. "I thought they were enjoying Italy."

"Oh, they were," Enzo says, his expression darkening. "Until Lucrezia figured out it wasn't actually a vacation. Apparently Damiano told them they were going for a break, not because he was shipping them off for safety."

Fuck. "Let me guess—Lucrezia lost her shit when she found out?" I ask.

"Completely," Enzo confirms. "And the best part? Zoe got caught in the middle of it. Lucrezia isn't even mad about beingsent away, I mean it’s Italy, right?—she's pissed that Damiano lied about the reason."

Noah shakes his head. "Rookie mistake. Should've just told her the truth."

"You try telling Lucrezia Feretti anything she doesn't want to hear," Enzo challenges. "The woman's got a temper that makes mine look reasonable."

I feel Melania's eyes on me, taking in this glimpse of Feretti family dynamics. I slide my hand under the table and give her knee a reassuring squeeze.

"Lucrezia hates being managed," I explain to her quietly. "Always has, even as a kid."

"I can understand that," Melania says and I catch the flash of recognition in her eyes.

Enzo leans forward. "Damiano's going to be in the doghouse for weeks. You know how Lucrezia gets when she thinks someone's trying to protect her without her consent."

"Like a fucking hurricane," Noah adds.

Daniel shifts his stance by the door. "At least they're safe in Italy. That's what matters."

CHAPTER 27

Istudy the men around the table as they banter about Damiano's family ‘drama’ as Alessio called it. Fifteen minutes have passed since Ginerva's announcement, but no one seems concerned by Damiano’s absence. They've fallen into comfortable conversation, revealing the easy familiarity of men who've faced good as well as very bad moments together.

Noah catches me watching him and raises an eyebrow. His dark eyes miss nothing—tactical, assessing. He reminds me of a chess player, always planning three moves ahead. Unlike Matteo's obvious physical strength, Noah's power seems to lie in his mind.

"So you studied in London?" Noah asks, redirecting my attention.

"Computer science," I reply, measuring my words.

Enzo leans back, arms crossed. He's the most intimidating of the group—raw power barely contained in a designer suit. The scars on his knuckles tell stories of violence, yet he seems unexpectedly loyal in how he speaks about the others.

I glance between them, piecing together their dynamic. These men function like specialized parts of a machine. They fit together with the precision of parts that have been interlocked over a long period.

Daniel remains standing by the door, silent and watchful. His posture screams military training but his eyes are gentler than the others.

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