Emily immediately regretted saying yes.

The villa was enormous.

Music drifted through the warm night air.

Luxury cars lined the long driveway.

Men in expensive suits stood talking in small groups.

Women in elegant dresses moved through the courtyard like something out of a movie.

Emily stepped out of the car carefully.

Her black dress felt suddenly too simple.

"What am I doing here," she whispered.

"Attending a party?"

Emily turned.

Alessandro stood beside her.

Tonight he wore a dark charcoal suit instead of black.

Somehow he looked even more dangerous.

"You didn't tell me it would be this… intense."

"You didn't ask."

"That seems to be a theme with you."

He offered his arm.

"Stay close to me."

Emily hesitated… then took it.

The moment they walked inside, something changed.

Conversations lowered.

Eyes followed them.

Emily noticed the way men nodded respectfully to Alessandro.

The way people stepped aside.

It wasn't just respect.

It was fear.

She leaned toward him.

"they're staring at me."

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because you're with me."

That answer didn't help her nerves.

A tall man approached.

Older.

Gray hair.

Sharp suit.

"Alessandro," he said warmly.

"Good to see you."

"Marco," Alessandro replied.

Marco's eyes moved to Emily.

"And who is this?"

Alessandro didn't hesitate.

"Emily."

Marco smiled politely.

"A pleasure."

But Emily noticed something else in his expression.

Curiosity.

Calculation.

After Marco left, she whispered:

"He was analyzing me."

"Everyone here will."

"Great."

"You'll survive."

They moved deeper into the villa.

Crystal chandeliers.

Soft music.

Waiters carrying champagne.

It looked like a glamorous European party.

But Emily could feel something else beneath the surface.

Power.

Danger.

Secrets.

She leaned closer to Alessandro.

"Your friends are intimidating."

"Notfriends."

Emily blinked."What are they?"

"Competitors."

That didn't make her feel better.

A group of men across the room watched them closely.

One of them whispered something.

Another laughed.

Alessandro followed her gaze.His expression cooled instantly.

"Stay here."

"What?"

He gently placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Do not leave this room."

"Alessandro—"

But he was already walking toward the group of men.

Even from across the room, Emily could feel the tension.

The smirking man looked toward her.

Then back at Alessandro.

Whatever he said next made Alessandro's eyes darken.

She had no idea what was happening.

But she was suddenly very aware of something.

Every single person in this room knew exactly who Alessandro Romano was.

And they all understood one thing clearly.

The American girl standing behind him…

Had somehow become "his".

Emily watched Alessandro cross the room with controlled, deliberate steps.

The men he approached were still smiling at first.

But something about Alessandro's presence erased that confidence quickly.

From across the hall, Emily couldn't hear the conversation.

She could only read the body language.

The man who had been laughing earlier—a tall blond man with slicked-back hair—said something with a smirk.

Alessandro leaned closer.

Whatever he said in return wiped the smirk off the man's face instantly.

Emily shifted nervously beside the marble column where she had been told to wait.

A woman in a silver dress walked past her and whispered to her companion.

"That must be the American girl."

Emily pretended not to hear.

Another man nearby muttered quietly.

"Romano moves quickly."

The second man answered, "He always does."

Emily folded her arms.

She suddenly felt like she had been dropped into a game where everyone knew the rules except her.

A moment later Alessandro returned.

His expression was calm again.

But his eyes were darker.

"What happened?" Emily asked.

"Nothing important."

Emily tilted her head.

"A misunderstanding that involved glaring at each other like characters in a crime movie."

He looked mildly amused.

"You notice a lot."

"You're the one who brought me to a party full of suspicious billionaires."

"Some are only millionaires."

"haha,not comforting."

Alessandro gestured toward the terrace.

"Come."

They stepped outside into the cool night air.

The noise of the party softened behind them.

Florence stretched below the villa, glowing under the moonlight.

Emily leaned against the stone railing.

"You didn't answer my question."

"Which one?"

"What that was about."

Alessandro looked out over the city.

"The man I spoke to represents another family."

Emily stiffened slightly.

"Another… mafia family."

"Yes."

"And he doesn't like you."

"That is normal."

Emily frowned.

"What did he say?"

Alessandro hesitated for a moment.

Then he answered honestly.

"He suggested that bringing you here was… irresponsible."

Her stomach tightened.

"Why?"

"Because you are not part of this world."

"That sounds reasonable."

"Yes."

"But he also suggested something else."

Emily waited.

His voice grew quieter.

"He implied that someone like you could be… taken."

Emily's pulse jumped.

"Taken?"

"Yes."

"As in kidnapped?"

"Potentially."

She stared at him.

"And you're telling me this *after* bringing me to the party?"

"I brought you here so everyone would see you beside me."

Emily frowned.

"That doesn't sound safer."

"It is."

"How?"

Alessandro turned to face her.

"Because now they know something important."

"What?"

"That you are not available."

Emily blinked.

"That sounds very possessive."

"It is also very clear."

She crossed her arms.

"You didn't ask if I wanted to be part of this mafia system."

"No."

Before she could respond, a man stepped onto the terrace.

One of Alessandro's security guards.

"Signore."

Alessandro turned.

"Yes?"

"There has been… movement."

The guard glanced briefly at Emily before continuing.

"Two unfamiliar vehicles near the outer gate."

Alessandro's expression sharpened instantly.

"Which family?"

"Not confirmed."

Emily felt a cold knot form in her stomach.

"What does that mean?"

Alessandro's voice became calm again.

But it was the calm of someone preparing for something dangerous.

"It means the party is over."