The boy she'd loved. The friend she'd lost. Her first heartbreak break when her father spirited her away without explanation or goodbye.
Now a man, harder, colder, dangerous in ways the teenage Dante had only hinted at becoming.
"Mr. Valenti," Castellano said, surprise evident in his voice. "We weren't expecting you this evening."
"Clearly." Dante's gaze never left Elena's face. "One million dollars. Cash. Available immediately."
Silence stretched as Castellano visibly calculated the implications. Everyone in the room understood what Dante Valenti's presence meant: a direct challenge to Castellano on his territory.
"The bid stands at one million dollars," Castellano finally announced. "Going once... going twice..."
No one dared counter. Even in shadow, Elena could see the tension in
