*Caterina*

We walked to our room quickly, Elio’s hands never leaving my body. I could tell by the grin that he couldn’t seem to keep off his face that he was proud of how I’d handled myself in the meeting.

I was proud, too. I’d been so afraid when I came to Italy that all the trauma of losing my father would paralyze me and prevent me from being an asset to the family, but it turned out I was stronger than I ever realized.

The second the door to ...