*Sophia’s POV*The curling iron sizzled as I wrapped another section of my hair around the hot barrel. I winced as a wisp of hair singed, filling the air with an acrid smell. The red dress I was wearing was a gift from Jacopo. Something to wear after I left here as a reminder of how his hands had once caressed my body.I stared at my reflection in the gilt-edged mirror as I applied a deep red lipstick. The color reminded me of the wine we shared on our first date out to dinner. A knot formed in my stomach as I pictured Jacopo's tonight. We had to discuss the fact that my visa was expiring. His warm brown eyes would cloud with hurt, and the thought of leaving him and Italy behind felt like a dagger twisting in my heart.I longed to stay wrapped in Jacopo's powerful embrace, to wander the cobbled streets hand-in-hand, to wake up every morning next to him. But the visa's expiration loomed, an implacable cliff's edge, drawing nearer each day. I took a deep breath, steadying myself bef
*Sophia’s POV*I opened the door to our new workspace, the smell of fresh paint and new beginnings filling my nose. Luca grinned at me as he hauled in another box of supplies.We had ended up moving to my home town in London after our return to the States, making sure we finished any pending business over there first before adventuring ourselves to a new business here."Can you believe this is all ours, Soph?" He asked, gesturing around at the empty space. I laughed, I could hardly believe it myself. "It's crazy. But with the money from the villa job, we can finally start that restoration business we always talked about."We spent the next hour unpacking boxes and brainstorming names for our new company. Luca wanted something flashy and clever, while I argued for something simple and elegant. We volleyed ideas back and forth, joking and teasing each other. In the end we settled on "Sophia & Luca Art Restoration." It felt right to put our names on it. It was our dream, and now i
*Sophia’s POV*The sun dipped below the horizon as we left the greco-roman dig site, casting a warm glow on the ancient ruins. Giorgio walked beside me, his eyes constantly scanning our surroundings as he took in the sights Greece had to offer. He seemed to enjoy being away from the constant mafia danger, and I couldn't blame him."Giorgio, thank you for being here with me," I said."Of course, Sophia," he replied with a smile. "You know I'd do anything to keep you safe."As night fell, we made our way to a bustling market full of antiques and vendors. The vibrant colors, fragrant spices, and cheerful chatter of the locals were intoxicating, and I found myself drawn toward a stall displaying beautiful handmade tiles."Look at these," I breathed, running my fingers over the intricate patterns. "They're stunning!""Indeed, they are," a deep voice agreed from behind me. I turned to see a man with dark, wavy hair and piercing eyes. My heart skipped a beat.I took in the intricate de
Sophie’s POV‘I can't believe I'm walking and being celebrated in the same space the Met Gala is held every year,’ I thought to myself as I perused the ornate decorations that graced every wall and table. The museum ballroom was tastefully decorated with a fusion of French elegance and New York grandeur. The walls were lined with glossy gold frames that highlighted the stunning artwork, and in the center of the room stood a magnificent marble sculpture in a glass display case. I stood toward the front of the room and assessed the guests chatting excitedly. The tables were dressed with fine white linens, accented by tall golden candelabras and an array of crystal glasses and utensils. Ornamental vases filled with vibrant flowers adorned every corner, adding a splash of color to balance out the more traditional aesthetic. Meanwhile, guests mingled in tuxedos and long gowns that sparkled under the flickering chandelier light. I glanced down at my ballgown and was thankful a styli
*Sophie’s POV*"Let's go, Soph. We don't have a lot of time. We have to be the first ones through the doors, or we'll miss the best stuff," my friend Luca urged me to hurry so we could get to the local flea market right at seven o’clock. "If you don't quit rushing me, I'm staying home," I threatened even though we both knew I was lying.I glanced at the clock and realized we only had twenty minutes to get there before the doors opened, so I bent over, stepped into my shoes, and ran for the door. "Hurry up, Luca! I don't want to be late," I jokingly yelled over my shoulder, much to Luca's annoyance.We walked down the three flights of stairs and exited my apartment. The smells and activity of the streets of New York assaulted our senses, and I looked around at the chaos of the city. The sidewalks were full of locals and tourists hurrying to their destinations, and children ran toward their schools gleefully. We wouldn't make it in time if we had to wait on public transit, so we
*Sophie’s POV*My reflection stared back at me as I took in what I was wearing. Mr. Rossi had already seen me at my best when we first met at the unveiling, and I didn't want to show up in my grungy flea market attire. I came home to change, and Luca deserted me so he could go have lunch with Kylie and Minerva. I wore a simple black dress I bought recently, and I paired it with a pair of black high-heeled sandals that I bought because they made my already long legs look even longer. I pulled the top of my curly mop of hair into a top knot, and let the rest fall down my back. My dark brows framed my mocha-colored almond-shaped eyes, eyes that never cease to remind me of how much I physically resembled my mother.I had decided to skip makeup altogether except for a hint of blush and shiny lip gloss. Mr. Rossi seemed nice enough, but I didn't want him to get the wrong idea about how I was dressed. Men like him were used to getting whatever they wanted, but I wasn't interested in being
*Sophie’s POV*Luca and I were now sitting on the plane, with Italy coming into view as we descended. We'd both managed to get our affairs in order and delegate our projects to other people, freeing up the time for the villa restoration. It had been easy for both of us, as we had finished up the large projects we were working on.We were both ecstatic to see what was in store for us here and the scenery around us was breathtaking. The vast expanse of land, revealed by the clouds slowly lifting, had our eyes wide open in amazement."Oh, my God," Luca said as he pointed to the countryside coming into view.The fields of rolling greens, lined up against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains seemed like something out of a postcard. The tiny little towns nestled in between them looked so quaint and peaceful from our vantage point in the air. Everything below just looked alive - buzzing with energy and life that only added to my excitement for this new adventure.My cheeks hurt from smili
*Sophie’s POV*The reverberation of the front door hitting the wall caused us all to turn our heads. Alessandro Rossi stood in the doorway with an amused look on his face as he assessed the precarious situation the three of us had found ourselves in. His eyes moved from the scared expression on my face to the gun in the other man’s hand, and I swear he smiled.He wore an expensive suit that accentuated the muscular build of his body. His face was lined with age, but still handsomely chiseled. "Jacopo, put the gun away. Sophia and Luca were invited here by me, and I won't have you running them off because you're having one of your temper tantrums."Jacopo. That was the name of this handsome stranger that stole my breath at the flea market, and now stole my peace in Tuscany.Jacopo furrowed his brow and scowled at Alessandro. His gaze shifted to Luca and me, and he bared his teeth in a menacing expression. I held my breath as Jacopo tightened his grip on the gun before uncurling his