**Stefano’s POV**

My pulse slammed against my throat the moment his words settled.

This was it.

The moment I had been dreading since the second I realized Elena was no longer a pawn, the second I realized I would burn the world down just to keep her breathing.

I kept my face calm, but inside, I was burning.

There was no way in hell I would let Raffaele see even a crack. If he sensed that my feelings had changed, if he sensed even a flicker of the love I felt for her, he wouldn't just take ...