Alessia Mancini
The Alfa Romeo's engine purred to a stop, the silence settling around me like a velvet cloak. Through the tinted windows, La Perla's elegant facade loomed, its marble columns and wrought iron balconies a silent sentinel. My heart quickened, each beat a reminder of the delicate dance I was about to perform.
Nico's lean form materialized at my door, his green eyes scanning the perimeter with predatory intensity. As he opened the door, the scent of his cologne mingled with the briny sea air.
"All clear, Signorina Mancini," he murmured, voice low and reassuring.
I stepped out, the click of my Louboutins on the cobblestones echoing in the quiet street. "Grazie, Nico," I replied, infusing my tone with a lightness I didn't feel.
Sofia appeared at my side, her presence a comfo
