Chapter 15
T he morning sun streams through the windows of the Feretti mansion. I stand near the main entrance with Alessio, reviewing security protocols on his tablet.
"We've doubled the perimeter guards," Alessio says, swiping through camera feeds. "But I'm concerned about this blind spot near the east gate."
I study the layout, noting the vulnerability. "We need another camera here," I tap the screen. "And motion sensors along this section of wall."
"Agreed." Alessio nods, making notes. "What about rotating the guard shifts? Four hours instead of six might keep them sharper."
"Good call. Fatigue leads to mistakes." I scan the property through the windows, checking sight lines and potential breach points. "And we should add another man at the north entrance. It's too exposed."
The front door swings open, and I tense automatically, hand moving toward my weapon before I register the visitor.
Liam Davis. Twenty-nine. Harvard Law. The Feretti family's newest attorney.
Smug bastard.
"Gentlemen," Liam greets, flashing that practiced smile as he removes his sunglasses. His eyes barely acknowledge me before focusing on Alessio. "I have those contracts Damiano requested."
"He's in his office," Alessio replies, not looking up from the tablet.
Liam nods, but makes no move to head upstairs. Instead, he lingers, checking his reflection in the hallway mirror and adjusting his already perfect tie.
The kitchen door opens, and Lucrezia steps out, a coffee mug in hand. She's dressed casually in jeans and a loose sweater, her hair pulled back in a simple ponytail. She's breathtaking even if you see her sweating after practicing in the gym.
Liam's face lights up. "Lucrezia! Just the person I was hoping to see."
Her steps falter slightly, but she recovers with a polite smile. "Liam. I didn't know you were coming by today."
"Last-minute meeting with your brother." He moves toward her, blocking her path with casual presumption. "I heard the news about your engagement. Congratulations are in order."
"Thank you," she says, her voice neutral.
Liam leans closer. "The Sartori family. Quite the alliance." His eyes sweep over her appreciatively. "Bruno's a lucky man."
Bastard.
I force myself to remain still, to keep my expression blank.
I watch Liam's hand reach out and touch Lucrezia's arm, his fingers lingering against her sweater.
"Your charity work is truly impressive," he says, leaning closer. "The women's shelter foundation shows such compassion. I'd love to discuss how I might contribute... perhaps over dinner sometime?"
Something snaps inside me. Before I can process the thought, I'm moving.
Three steps and I'm between them, my body creating a physical barrier as I position myself directly in Liam's space.
"Remove your hand," I say quietly.
The words come out calm, measured, but there's an edge underneath that makes Liam's eyes widen. He drops his hand immediately.
"I was just?—"
"I know exactly what you were doing." My voice remains low, controlled. "Miss Feretti has a security detail for a reason. That reason includes maintaining appropriate physical distance."
I don't raise my voice. I don't need to. Years in combat taught me that true intimidation comes from control, not volume.
"The next time you feel compelled to touch Miss Feretti, remember this conversation." I hold his gaze, letting him see what lurks behind my eyes. "There won't be a second warning."
Liam's throat bobs as he swallows. The lawyer mask slips, revealing the uncertainty beneath. He takes a step back, straightening his tie with nervous fingers.
"I meant no disrespect," he says, his confident tone faltering. "I apologize if I overstepped."
"Not to me," I say, my eyes never leaving his. "To Miss Feretti."
Liam turns to Lucrezia, who stands watching the exchange with an unreadable expression.
"My apologies, Lucrezia. That was unprofessional of me."
I can feel Alessio's presence behind me, silent but alert. The tension in the room is thick enough to cut.
"Damiano's waiting for those contracts," Alessio reminds him, his voice deceptively casual.
Liam nods quickly. "Of course. I'll head up now." He gives Lucrezia a final apologetic glance before hurrying toward the stairs, maintaining a wide berth around me.
When his footsteps fade, I step back, creating appropriate distance between Lucrezia and myself. I force my breathing to slow, my muscles to relax from their combat-ready tension.
Alessio turns to Lucrezia. "You okay, Lucrezia?"
Lucrezia's eyes flash with annoyance, or maybe embarrassment as she looks between us. "Why wouldn't I be okay? We were just talking." Her voice is cool, controlled. "I've been dealing with men like Liam Davis my entire life."
The dismissal stings more than it should. Of course she doesn't need my protection from a harmless flirtation. She's a Feretti. She's been navigating sharks since childhood.
Alessio raises his hands in mock surrender. "Just checking. Forget I asked." He shoots me a look I can't quite interpret before heading toward the stairs. "Coming, Daniel?"
"Right behind you," I say, not moving yet.
When Alessio disappears up the stairs, Lucrezia turns to me, her eyes narrowing.
"What was that?" she demands, setting her coffee mug down with a sharp click.
"Security protocol," I answer, my voice flat.
"Bullshit." She steps closer. "That wasn't protocol. That was something else."
My jaw tightens. "He was touching you."
"People touch me all the time, Daniel. It's called being social." Her chin lifts in challenge. "I shake hands. I hug friends. Sometimes men flirt with me."
My fists clench at my sides, knuckles white with the effort of restraint.
"Not while I'm here." The words scrape out of my throat, rough and raw.
Lucrezia's eyes widen slightly. "Excuse me?"
"Not. While. I'm. Here." Each word comes out like a bullet.
I take a step toward her, closing the distance between us. Every muscle in my body is coiled tight, ready to spring. The rational part of my brain is drowning under a flood of possessive rage.
"You're engaged to Bruno Sartori," I say, my voice dropping dangerously low. "And until that changes, no other man touches you."
Her breath catches. "That's not your call to make."
"It is when I'm assigned to your protection." My hand moves without permission, fingers wrapping around her wrist. Not hurting, but claiming. Marking. "My job is to keep you safe."
"Safe from Liam Davis?" She tries to pull away, but I tighten my grip slightly. "He's our family lawyer, for God's sake."
"I don't care if he's the fucking Pope." The curse slips out, harsh and unfiltered. "No one touches what's mine to protect."
The moment the words leave my mouth, I know I've crossed a line. Lucrezia isn't mine. She's my assignment. My responsibility. Nothing more.
Except that's a lie, and we both know it.
Her eyes darken, pupils dilating as she stares up at me. "What did you just say?"
I should back down. Apologize. Maintain professional distance.
Instead, I step closer until we're breathing the same air.
"You heard me." My free hand comes up to her face, thumb brushing across her cheekbone in a touch that's anything but professional. "While I'm assigned to you, you're mine to protect. Mine to keep safe."
My voice has transformed into a growl. The violence I've spent years controlling simmers just beneath my skin, ready to erupt against anyone who dares approach her.
"And if Bruno Sartori or Liam Davis or any other man puts their hands on you..." I trail off, the threat hanging unspoken between us.
Lucrezia's pulse races under my fingers where they circle her wrist. Her chest rises and falls with quick, shallow breaths.
"You'd what?" she whispers, challenging me even now. "What would you do, Daniel?"
The answer burns in my blood, primitive and absolute. I'd tear them apart. I'd make them regret the moment they thought they could touch her.
What the fuck am I doing?
I've become the very thing I'm supposed to guard her against.
A threat.
I release her wrist suddenly, stepping back as if burned. My training kicks in, forcing my breathing to slow, my muscles to unclench.
"I apologize, Miss Feretti," I say, my voice mechanical as I retreat behind professional walls. "That was inappropriate."
I turn and leave her there.
I remain frozen where Daniel left me, my wrist still tingling from his touch. The ghost of his fingers burns against my skin like a brand.
Mine to protect.
The words echo in my head.
Daniel Hayes just claimed me. Not as a job. Not as an assignment. But as his .
And God help me, I liked it.
I should be terrified. I should be running in the opposite direction. After what happened to me, a man's possessiveness should trigger nothing but panic and revulsion. And that was indeed happening to me whenever someone got closer to me even if he was just talking.
Instead, heat pools low in my belly, and my skin feels too tight, too sensitive.
I've seen Daniel take down threats before. I've watched him scan rooms, position himself strategically, communicate silently with the security team. Always calm. Always controlled. Always the perfect soldier.
But just now? That wasn't the controlled professional I've known for years.
And I want to see more.
I want to push him further, past those rigid boundaries he's built. I want to see what happens when Daniel Hayes finally breaks. Would he back away again? Or would he?—
"Earth to Lucrezia? Hello?"
I blink, suddenly aware that Zoe is standing in front of me, waving her hand before my face.
"Sorry, what?" I shake my head, trying to clear the fog of Daniel from my mind.
Zoe's eyes narrow with suspicion. "I've been talking to you for like thirty seconds. Where did you go just now?"
I glance toward the direction where Daniel disappeared, then back to my sister-in-law. "Nowhere. Just... thinking."
"Uh-huh." Zoe crosses her arms, not buying it for a second. "And would this 'nowhere' happen to be six-foot-two with tattoos and a gun?"