“I know you do. You’re a good girl, Annika.” Uncle Igor and my father share a look. “I wanted to let you know that you’ll be moving to Denver for your residency.”
I frown and shake my head. “I don’t understand.”
“You’ll be switching schools in the fall. You’ll complete your residency in Denver.”
What about Rafe?
“Why? I’m doing well here, and I like this college. I have friends here.”
“I know.” He folds his hands on his desk. “And a boyfriend, eh?”
I blink rapidly. I hate lying to my family. “No, of course, not.”
He tosses several photos on the desk in front of me, and I swallow hard when I see images of Rafe and me, walking hand-in-hand on campus, laughing while seated at our favorite restaurant, and kissing on a bridge where we like to take walks.
“You’ve never been a liar before, firefly.”
I feel my father shift next to me, and tears immediately threaten.
“I don’t like lying now,” I confess and swallow hard.
“You know that the Martinellis are off-limits.”
I clasp my hands tightly in my lap.
“Look at me,” he says, but his voice is gentle, and his eyes hold compassion when I meet his. “You fancy yourself in love, do you?”
“Yes.”
He nods and turns to look out the windows.
“He was sent here to follow you.”
I blink, certain I’ve heard him wrong.
“They’re keeping an eye on you and trying to get information. The fact that they’d stoop so low and use my innocent niece as a pawn is unforgivable.”
“No, that’s not what’s happening. Rafe was surprised to see me. We didn’t know we were attending the same college.”
“Annika,” Papa says beside me and reaches for my hand. “You know this is not possible. It’s forbidden.”
A tear drops onto my cheek. “I didn’t mean to fall in love with him any more than I can be to blame for his family tree.”
“You’re smarter than this,” Uncle Igor says. “And I’m ending it. Now. Your last day of class is Friday. You’ll be packed up and moved by Saturday afternoon. I’ve already arranged for the movers. This is not up for discussion.”
My world is crumbling out from under me.
“What about Ivie?”
“She’ll go with you. I know she’s your closest friend and your confidante. I’m not a monster.”
I have to try. I have to fight for what Rafe and I have. “Please, Uncle Igor. If you could just listen. If you could maybe talk to Rafe...”
“I am not at fault here,” he replies, his voice hard now. “You know what it means to be a part of this family. You know that the Martinellis are off-limits. You need to remember your place and be grateful that simply changing schools is your punishment for defying me.”
He’s all boss now. I know better than to talk back.
So, I simply nod.
“Yes, sir.”
“Good. End it today. I have an apartment waiting for you and Ivie in Denver. It’s in a nice part of town and is newer than the place you have here.”
“Thank you.” It’s a whisper.
When they dismiss me, I walk on numb legs out of the office building and stand on the sidewalk in the sunshine.
My God, how will I tell him?
Chapter 1
~Rafe~
Present Day
“They met with him?” I demand. I shove my hands into the pockets of my tux and work at keeping my face expressionless.
We’re at a wedding, for Christ’s sake.
“Pop confirmed it last night,” Carmine says, rocking back on his heels. “I meant to pull you both in and tell you, but things got crazy.”
“It was the night before your wedding,” Shane reminds him. “Of course, it’s crazy. What in the hell were they thinking, going in there alone? They’re too old for that shit.”
I share a look with my brothers, and then we all chuckle.
“They may be older,” I reply, speaking of our father and Carmine’s new father-in-law, Igor Tarenkov, both bosses of two of the strongest crime families in the world, “but they’re not weak. They’re also smart. If they went in to talk to those in Carlito’s office without us, they knew what they were doing.”
“Yeah, well,” Carmine says, “I wish they’d let us in on it.”
“This isn’t the time or place,” Shane says and claps a hand on our eldest brother’s shoulder. “We’re here to celebrate. Go dance with your bride. I’m going to find my smokin’ hot fiancée and take her for a spin around the dance floor myself. Did you see how hot she looks today?”
Carmine and I smile as Shane hurries off to find Ivie.
“She’s good for him,” I say, watching as our brother takes Ivie’s hand, kisses it, and then pulls her onto the dance floor. “She makes him happy.”
“She does.” Carmine nods and then glances to our left, motioning with his head. “She seems to frustrate you.”
I follow his gaze and sigh when my eyes land on Annika. My gut churns, the way it always does whenever I see the woman I’ve loved for almost a decade.
“She does more than that,” I murmur and sip my champagne. “I want to kiss the fuck out of her and take her over my damn knee.”
Carmine laughs and taps his glass to mine. “That’s a woman for you. I think I’ll follow our brother’s lead and go find my wife.”
His grin flashes over his face.
“My wife.”
“You went and chained yourself to a dame for the rest of your life.”
“Hell, yes. And I’d do it again in a heartbeat if it meant I could marry Nadia all over again.”
“I guess you’re allowed to be sappy on your wedding day. Go find your bride and dance inappropriately for a while.”
“My pleasure.”
Carmine saunters across the room, his eyes set on Nadia. She’s a beautiful bride, and her eyes light up when she turns to see Carmine approaching.
They’re both a couple of saps.
I guess I would be, too. I turn to look at Annika once more and sigh. She’s as stunning as ever, with her long, blond hair falling around her in loose curls. Her makeup is flawless and more glammed-up for the occasion. The dress she’s in showcases every curve to perfection, and my fingers ache with my desire to touch her.
Hell, it’s not just my fingers that ache.
I’ve become accustomed to admiring her from afar. Keeping my distance.
Giving her space.
But my patience is running thin.
Her piece-of-shit husband has been dead for months. Nothing’s standing in our way now.
Nothing except her stubbornness.
I set my empty glass on a tray and walk to where Annika is sitting, alone. She’s holding an envelope, and I watch as she tears it open, quickly pages through the contents, and then runs a shaking hand through that silky hair.
I’m not at all ashamed that I look over her shoulder.
I almost wish I hadn’t.