Page 41 of Broken Honor

I stand up from the coffee table and step forward, just a little. “Hello,” I say to the girls and they pull back in fear.

Carmela’s head snaps up.

“Get the fuck out of my café.”

I smile faintly. “I’ll be back.”

And then I turn and walk out, Bugatti behind me.

The doorbell chimes again as we leave.

Chapter Seven – Lunetta

The man steps forward.

He’s tall like someone out of a storybook. He leans slightly toward us, and his voice is quiet when he says it.

“Hello.”

He scares me. I hide behind Bea. I’ve never seen a man like him before.

He’s wearing all black—a long coat that fits him perfectly, like it was stitched just for his shoulders. His gloves are dark leather, smooth and expensive-looking. His shirt is black too, and even the edges of his shoes look sharp, like they could cut through marble.

But it’s his face that holds me still.

His hair is thick, deep brown, pushed back but a little messy, like he ran a hand through it before walking in. His features are strong—his jaw sharp, his cheekbones high, his mouth unsmiling but… still, somehow, commanding. And his eyes—

His eyes are steel-gray, cold and serious, but there are flickers of gold in them, like fire hidden beneath stone. I don’t know how eyes can look heavy and bright at the same time, but his do.

They meet mine for a second.

And something strange happens inside me. Something quiet. Like a flutter in my ribs. I forget to breathe.

He’s terrifying.

But he’s also… beautiful.

I don’t know what to make of it. My fingers curl tightly around Nonna’s sleeve. My heart beats too fast. And still—I keep looking at him. I have seen him somewhere, but I just can’t place it.

“Get the fuck out of my café.”

Nonna’s voice cracks like thunder. Sharp. Angry. Loud.

I gasp.

My hand flies to my mouth. Nonna never says words like that.

She just swore—in front of everyone. Out loud. In the café.

My ears burn. I glance around like someone might fall out of the sky and punish us for it. I’ve always been taught cursing was wrong. It brings bad things.

The man only smiles faintly. “I’ll be back.”

He turns and walks out, the other man behind him. The bell jingles once more as the door closes behind them.

No one moves for a second.

Nonna stands very still, her shoulders shaking slightly. I glance up at her, worried, but before I can speak, she storms past me.

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