Instead, she kissed him.
It was clumsy and imperfect and witnessed by half of Luca’s family and business associates.
It was also the most honest thing Emma had done in years.
When they broke apart, the room erupted in applause.
Teresa stood in the doorway, wiping her eyes.
Camille was nowhere to be seen.
And Emma, who had come to this house to lie, realized she’d accidentally found the truth.
Three days later, Sophie called.
“Emma, what the hell did you do?”
Emma’s heart lurched. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong. That’s the problem. The guy I owed—Marco something—he showed up yesterday and said the debt’s cleared. Said I’m under protection now. Said if anyone so much as looks at me wrong, I should call a number he gave me.”
Emma closed her eyes. “Sophie—”
“He said you arranged it. Emma, who do you know that can make a loan shark wet himself in fear?”
“It’s complicated.”
“Complicated how?”
Emma looked across the room to where Luca stood in his office, speaking on the phone in Italian, gesturing emphatically.
“I’m seeing someone.”
Sophie went silent.
“Seeing someone,” she repeated.
“Yes.”
“Someone with the kind of connections that make loan sharks wet themselves.”
“Yes.”
“Emma. What the hell have you gotten yourself into?”
Emma smiled. “Something terrifying.”
“Is he good to you?”
The question made Emma’s chest ache.
“He’s everything I didn’t know I was allowed to want.”
Sophie exhaled. “Then I’m happy for you. And also scared. And also—Emma, if this person ever hurts you, I will burn down whatever city he lives in.”
“Noted.”
“I mean it.”
