Page 20 of Depths of Desire
To the left, a sunken living room anchors the space with soft leather furniture in muted earth-tones, a low fire crackling behind glass in a modern hearth. Built-in shelves line the walls, filled not with books, but with art objects—ancient, rare, and expensive.
Luna follows me past a grand staircase with wrought-iron railings, its steps worn just enough to hint at generations of careful footsteps. The walls are textured plaster, hand-troweled, and painted in soft tones of cream and taupe, accented by moody uplighting that glows like candlelight.
Beyond the hallway lies a sleek kitchen with stone countertops and dark cabinetry, utterly quiet, utterly spotless. A tray already sits on the island—wine, bread, and cheese set out. Carson had left it as instructed. Having good people is paramount to survival when you’re a vampire. Having a loyal firanglis, is the best I could hope for.
The deeper we go, the more I relax—this villa isn’t just a home. It’s a sanctuary. It’s also a command center, so I can run the family empire from here. I will use my resources to find out who is behind the mess in the harbor, and I’ll do it from the comfort of my own estate.
Luna exhales, taking it all in. "This is yours?"
I nod, setting my keys on the counter. "Yeah."
Her brows lift slightly. "You have expensive taste."
"I like my privacy."
She makes a soft sound and turns back toward the windows that make up the wall behind the table and chairs. "It’s beautiful."
She looks small here. Fragile, even. And I hate it. I like it when she’s arguing with me, full of fire and confidence. Quiet Luna puts my protective nature into overdrive, and I don’t need any more complications in my life.
"Go shower," I tell her, tossing my jacket onto the back of a stool at the island counter. "Upstairs, the last door on the right is your bedroom. There are towels in the bathroom. I’ll find you something dry to wear. Then I’ll re-wrap your wound."
She hesitates but then nods, disappearing down the hallway.
I rub a hand over my face, exhaustion starting to settle in. Guilt washes over me. I should reach out to Renzo and fill him in on Luna. The meeting with my father will be long over. I don’t feel obligated to tell Father, but Renzo is a different matter. Maybe once Luca gets back to me about the cameras, I’ll loop Renzo in. But right now, I need to take care of Luna.
I move to the kitchen, pulling open the fridge. There’s a bottle of wine, already chilled. I texted Carson earlier to make sure the place was ready and the fridge stocked.
By the time she emerges from the shower, her damp hair falling over her shoulders, I’ve set a cup of tea on the marble counter beside a glass of crisp white wine and the tray of cheese and crackers. She’s wearing one of the robes that I leave in every bathroom for guests, and it’s enormous on her.
She pauses, blinking at it. "You didn’t have to do that."
“Sit,” I say. I push up the sleeve of my robe and look at the cut on her arm. I pull out some medical glue and butterfly bandages. Using both is overkill, but I’d rather be safe than sorry with Luna.
“Thank you,” she mutters as I put the last adhesive strip in place.
"Eat."
She doesn’t argue. She slips onto one of the barstools, pulling the robe tighter around her shoulders as she takes a bite. For a moment, it’s quiet. Then she sets her crackers and cheese down. "What do you think happened on the ship?"
I lean against the counter, crossing my arms. "I think someone wanted to make a statement."
She studies me. "Against you or the Valdici family?"
I don’t answer right away. “I don’t know,” I say finally. “I would like to think we’re collateral damage for a change, but…” I shrug. “Too soon to tell.”
She pops a piece of cheese in her mouth and chews. “What do you think all this is about?”
“I have no idea.” Then I say, "But I believe you’re in danger. There is an above average chance someone saw you, which makes you a loose end."
She shivers, looking down at her plate.
"I don’t know what I was thinking," she mutters. "I thought I could just disappear."
I tilt my head. "You still think you can?"
She lifts her chin, meeting my gaze. "Yes."
I chuckle, shaking my head. "We’ll see, sunshine."
