Chapter 4 4

• “God, he’s tall.”
• That was Alessia’s whisper behind me, but I didn’t need the reminder. The man in front of us was a mountain in a tailored suit. The two men flanking him were both over six feet, but next to him they looked… human.
• He didn’t.
• His hands massive, scarred, calloused still rested on Sofia’s tiny shoulders. I couldn’t breathe.
• “Bianca,” I said, voice sharp. “Come here.”
• Sofia jerked backward, then bolted toward me, burying her face into my stomach. Her entire body trembled.
• Lorrenzo raised a single black eyebrow, like this was amusing.
• “That’s Lorrenzo Alessandro,” Alessia announced, her voice full of venom.
• And just like that, the air went colder.
• Marcus let out a strangled growl, the sound far too feral for a five-year-old. “Leave Isabella alone! You don’t get her!”
• Before I could react, Marcus was running charging at Lorrenzo like a wild thing.
• “No Marcus!” I cried.
• He slammed his fists into the man’s legs and stomach, over and over. Pointless. Lorrenzo didn’t flinch. Didn’t blink. He only reached down and caught both of Marcus’s hands in one of his, like he was capturing a bug.
• The man to Lorrenzo’s right stepped forward, his hand hovering near his vest. There was a weapon under there. The threat was clear.
• “Maria,” Lorrenzo said, and just the sound of his voice made my stomach twist. The man stilled instantly.
• I shoved Sofia into Alessia’s arms and stepped forward, swallowing down the terror rising like bile in my throat. I had to get Marcus away from him. I didn’t care if New York and Chicago had signed peace papers. One wrong move and blood would stain these halls.
• “Let him go,” I said softly, eyes locked on Marcus. “He’s just a child.”
• “Some child,” said the second man with a snort. He looked like Lorrenzo same ink-black hair, same predator's smirk but smaller. Leaner. Meaner. “I like this one.”
• “Macro,” Lorrenzo said. His tone was low, but it carried weight. The kind that could crush bones.
• Marcus was still thrashing. Still snarling.
• “Marcus,” I said, more firmly this time. I gripped his small shoulder. “Enough. That’s not how we treat guests.”
• He froze, then turned to glare up at me.
• “He’s not a guest,” he whispered fiercely. “He’s here to steal you.”
• Macro laughed. “God, this is perfect. Father was right to drag me here.”
• “He ordered you,” Lorrenzo corrected, never once looking away from me.
• I couldn’t meet his eyes. I focused on his chin instead sharp, angular, cruel.
• My cheeks burned as I felt the heat of his gaze strip me bare.
• He released Marcus without a word. I pulled my brother back against me, hands wrapped tightly over his chest. His heart was hammering against my palms. Still glaring. Still ready to fight.
• He had that luxury.
• He was a boy. He’d be an heir one day.
• He’d never be sold.
• “I’m… sorry,” I said. The words were acid on my tongue. “My brother didn’t mean ”
• “I did!” Marcus shouted.
• I clamped a hand over his mouth. He squirmed. I didn’t let go.
• “Don’t apologize,” Alessia snapped. “It’s not our fault he takes up the entire goddamn corridor with his ego. At least Marcus tells the truth. Everyone else just kisses his boots because he’s going to be Capo ”
• “Alessia!”
• She flinched like I’d struck her. Good. She didn’t understand what was at stake. None of them did.
• “Take Sofia and Marcus. Now.”
• “But ”
• “Now.”
• With a mutinous glare, she grabbed Marcus’s hand and pulled both of them down the corridor.
• Silence fell.
• I turned back.
• Three sets of eyes were on me.
• I swallowed the lump in my throat and looked at Lorrenzo properly for the first time.
• He was smirking.
• Not angry. Not annoyed.
• Amused.
• Like this was a game and I was already losing.
• I folded my arms across my chest, suddenly hyper-aware of how thin the fabric of my dress was. Mother would have had a fit. I wasn’t even dressed properly for our first meeting. A maxi dress. Barely any makeup. Hair in a braid. No armor.
• “I apologize,” I said, forcing each word. “They’re just… protective.”
• “Of you,” Lorrenzo said. His voice was steady. Smooth like black velvet over steel. “That’s rare.”
• He stepped aside. “This is my brother, Macro.”
• Macro gave a small nod, still grinning like he was watching a circus act.
• “And Maria. My right hand.”
• Maria’s stare cut like a blade. Silent. Calculating.
• “I should go,” I said, backing a step. “They’ll be waiting.”
• Lorrenzo’s smirk deepened, but he didn’t move to stop me.
• I turned and walked away.
• Not fast.
• Not too fast.
• I wouldn’t run.
• I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.
• But inside?
• Inside, I was already unraveling.