Chapter 1

Emiliana

Tears fell from my eyes as I read the letter word for word. I read it over and over until I had memorised it. I sniffed back the tears that rolled down my cheeks, wiping them with the back of my arm.

All my feelings came flooding back to me, just when I thought I was moving on, moving forward with my life, I was knocked backwards.

A shadow suddenly cast over me, blocking the sun that beamed overhead. I knew from the shape and the way the figure held himself that it was the last person I wanted to see.

I looked up, choking on my tears as the green eyes gazed down at me deeply. He held a hand in front of me, just like he had done so many times before.

“Principessa.” 

I couldn’t move. 

Everything that was telling me to walk away had refused to send the message to my legs. 

Giovanni stood with his shadow cast over me like a beautifully designed shade. 

Anger replaced my reminiscent emotions, rage coursed through my veins as I stood up, fisting the paper in my hand angrily. He never made a move as he observed me carefully, and that gave me the time to survey him myself.

He was looking smarter, more confident and lethal in his navy pinstriped suit. Where he once wore an open collared white or black shirt and black slacks, he was now sporting a three-piece suit and tie. His jacket hung from one finger as he slung it over his shoulder, the waistcoat clinging to his muscular chest and torso. 

I squinted my eyes, raising my hand to cover the rays that burst from behind Giovanni like some ethereal creature.

I could see his face was no longer marred by fights and torture. His perfect olive complexion had replaced the bruised and beaten features that I had remembered him wearing. 

His sharp jawline was perfectly shaped and shaven, only displaying a meticulously trimmed stubble. 

Giovanni’s entire aura screamed out danger to me, even more so than the first time I had met him. I could see how the last two months had hardened him, strengthened him and molded him into someone else, someone different. The part of him I recognised eased the fear that I felt briefly when I looked at him. But the unfamiliarity was still there, nagging at me. Whatever had happened over the last two months, it had changed him and I was too afraid to ask what that was.

There was no denying that he still maintained his enigmatic persona, the way his eyes held so many deadly secrets and could pierce you with one look. Yet he still held affection for me in his gaze. 

“Why are you here?” The words fell out like a whisper, but he heard me loud and clear. I was fighting back the pain; the pain I had spent the last two months avoiding, ignoring. I choked back the tears, the sob that rose up my throat. 

“I’ve always been here.” I could hear the kindness in his voice and see how much guilt he was holding onto but his voice was a lot sterner than I remembered.

He stepped forward with an arm reaching out. I followed the action, the way his fingers stretched out, tipping the keyrings that dangled lifelessly from my bag. My eyes caught the glistening metal that shimmered from his palm before his green eyes locked with mine. The silver shell that represented the walk I had just completed, the walk I had spent the entire time with his father instead of him.

Despite wanting to forget about Giovanni, lose any trace of him in my thoughts, I couldn’t part with the reminders of how happy he once made me. I was still holding onto the letter, crumpled in my hand as I fought back the anger. 

“You left me,” I sent the blame crashing down on him. I set my eyes down hard, steeling my voice to hide the flash of hurt deep inside. “You said you would never hurt me.” 

“I had to leave.” His certain words pinched at my heart, squeezing achingly hard. “I never meant to hurt you.”

“But you did.” All the rage and pain I had been ignorant to came rushing to the surface, forcing itself through my voice, through my arm and hand until my palm connected with his cheek.

Giovanni never flinched, never called out in pain. He rubbed his cheek, his jaw grinding silently at the impact but he wasn’t shocked. 

“Your father told me you would do this, and I didn’t listen!”

“It’s not like that.” He pleaded but I was too hurt to listen.

“Even now, you’re playing games.” The anger wavered through my voice.

It didn’t matter that Giovanni seemed wounded by my words, he still took a step towards me to close the distance. 

“Don’t come near me!” I screamed, my hands making contact with his taut chest, pushing him away from me. He stumbled back but I knew it was only to make me feel less feeble. I pushed again, he continued backing away with his hands raised in surrender. I went to push him once more, forcing all my body weight and anger into the action. I knew I couldn’t inflict the same pain he had on me, but it felt good to give him an insight into how I was feeling. 

Giovanni’s reactions were too quick for me, catching my wrists just before they made contact with his chest again. His green eyes were hard as he watched my distraught features turn into a sob that I had tried to lock away. His gaze softened the moment a tear fell from my eye and he reached forward, catching it on his thumb. 

“I’m sorry, Principessa, I —”

“No! You do not get to call me that!” I seethed, breaking away from his clutches and wiping my face stubbornly. 

“Please, you have to understand.” He sighed, sitting down on the bench beside me, ushering me to follow with a tug of my arm. I hesitantly perched on the edge, conscious of our proximity. “My grandfather and I had an agreement. I had to stay, so that I could make sure you were safe. The Verdi’s started something and my grandfather wanted me to end it.”

I shot a glance at him, listening to his words. “What do you mean, end it?”

My question went unanswered as Giovanni stared ahead, lips pursed together in thought. 

Although I had already figured out the answer, I still needed confirmation. I needed to know the reason for the last two months, for the letter, was because Giovanni was putting a stop to anything and everything that could come between us. I hated the thought of the last two months only being for my safety. As selfish as it was, I wanted there to be a deeper meaning; I wanted it to be for us. Until reading his letter, I wouldn’t have felt a thing but furious hatred, but now, now I was feeling. Feeling too much.

“You read my letter?” He glanced down at the screwed up paper, taking it out of my hands and smoothing it over his knee. “I meant every word. We can start fresh, start a new life together, if that’s what you want?” His deep green eyes found mine, apprehension framed them as he searched my features for an answer.

I had no words. 

The silence that followed was deep and thick as I tried to focus hard on what he was telling me. That he wanted me, he wanted a life with me.

I felt those words hit me deep inside, my chest constricted but my heart beat more confidently than it had over the last two months. As if Giovanni was the reason it beated. 

While every part of me was angry at him, I was beginning to understand why he left. That fact he had travelled to find me, willing to make us work, that was enough for me to reconsider my answer. 

Giovanni stood up, dusting his slacks off and slinging his jacket over his shoulder once more. 

“I don’t need an answer right now.” He hesitated, leaning forward to drop a kiss to my forehead before turning on his heel. 

“Ci ha trovati?” (He found us then?) Carlos’ deep voice resonated behind me. Twisting my head, I narrowed my eyes onto him. “Gli hai detto che eravamo qui?” (You told him we were here?) I accused. 

“Lei ha poca fiducia in lui. È un uomo intelligente.” (You have little faith in him. He is a clever man.) Carlos raised a brow at me before turning his head in the direction of Giovanni. “C'è solo un'altra persona per cui muoverebbe il cielo e la terra.” (There’s only one other person he would move heaven and earth for.)

I knew exactly who he was implying, and the thought had me riddled with guilt. Every fiber of my being was telling me to follow Giovanni, to move past my own pain and insecurity. He had done all this for me, he had come back for me and I was letting him walk away.

My heart raced, my face flushed red with heat. I couldn’t stop myself as I stood from the bench, following Giovanni’s steps with my own. I picked up my pace, almost sprinting to reach Giovanni. Each step forward was bringing me a step closer to him, to our future — whatever that was.

As if Giovanni heard me, he turned, catching me in his arms as I wrapped mine around his neck. A smile that melted my heart and made my knees weak, replaced his once solemn expression. 

He spun me around in his arms, pulling me closer and tighter to his chest, almost squeezing the breath from my lungs. I could hear my heart thumping loudly in my ears, my stomach fluttered and spun just as fast as Giovanni twirled my body.

I caught my breath just before his lips pressed against mine. Everything I had missed over the last two months was here, holding me close and kissing the life out of me. His tongue twining with mine, parted lips joining together before separating once again. Warmth spread through my body under his touch, the familiar sensation he brought to me whenever we were close. 

When he eventually pulled away, I felt the heat evaporate. While the Spanish air wasn’t cold, there was still a significant change in the temperature when our chests disconnected and I felt slightly disappointed that our kiss had ended.

Giovanni smiled down at me, pressing his forehead to mine and never uttering a word. 

I was the first to break the silence, giving him my answer before he asked again.

“I want it.” I gasped, drawing my hand down his face and cupping his rough cheek. “I want it all with you.”