Chapter 61 This Isn't Over

• The air in the black SUV was thick with tension. Alessio sat beside me, his expression unreadable as we neared the Ricci estate. The entire ride had been silent, except for the occasional sound of his fingers drumming against his thigh. I, on the other hand, was trying to keep my pulse steady. I wasn’t scared—I refused to be—but I knew this meeting was more than just a formality. Valeria’s father wasn’t a man to be taken lightly, and I wasn’t naïve enough to think he’d welcome me with open arms.
• The gates of the Ricci mansion loomed ahead, guarded by men who carried their guns like accessories. Our driver pulled up to the grand entrance, and before I could even unbuckle my seatbelt, the door was opened for me.
• Alessio stepped out first, adjusting the cuffs of his jacket. He turned, extending a hand toward me. I hesitated for a split second before taking it. We had to look united, even if my skin tingled at the contact. Inside, the house was a picture of old money—gold accents, marble floors, and the scent of expensive cigars lingering in the air.