Alessia Mancini
"Signora Vitale wants to talk to you," he said, his voice low and controlled. "Do you want me to get rid of her?"
"What does she want?" I asked, fighting to keep my voice steady.
Nico's shoulders lifted in a slight shrug, his expression carefully neutral. "She didn't say."
I took a deep breath, the scent of espresso and pastries from a nearby table mingling with the faint trace of Riley's citrusy perfume. The café's ambient chatter seemed to fade as I weighed my options.
"I'll be back in a minute," I said to Riley, my voice barely above a whisper. "Best find out what she wants." I turned to Sofia, her stoic presence a comforting constant. "Sofia, please stay with Riley."
As I stood, my dress whispered against my skin, a reminder of the luxurious trappings of my new li
