Alessia Mancini
I rose, feeling slightly unsteady on my feet. Whether from the wine or the lingering adrenaline from earlier, I couldn't say. Giovanni's hand found the small of my back, steadying me, his touch both reassuring and electrifying.
As we made our way to the exit, I noticed Alessandro materialise in front of us, while two other men I recognised as the backup security detail fell into step behind. The constant, vigilant presence of these men was yet another reminder of the world I had stepped into – a world where danger and luxury walked hand in hand.
The moment we stepped outside, the air crackled with tension. A small group of reporters had stubbornly remained, their cameras at the ready like loaded weapons. The flash of bulbs exploded in rapid succession, momentarily blindi
