Page 131 of Iron Roses

Daffodils. Mine and Giovanna’s.

Cassian doesn’t look up right away. He’s smoothing the earth with his palm, pressing gently as if making room for something fragile. When he stands, he wipes his hands on his trousers and walks toward us.

Lorenzo reaches Allegra first. She opens her mouth like she’s about to comment, but he wraps his arms around her in a loose hug, brushing a kiss against her forehead before she can step away.

She elbows him lightly. “Don’t,” she mutters.

Lorenzo lifts both hands as if accused of something, then gives a wide, overly innocent smile that makes her roll her eyes and glance quickly around the front of the house. Her fingers linger just a second longer on his arm before letting go.

I turn toward Cassian as he comes to stand in front of me.

I reach for him. His arms come around me, and I settle into his chest. He smells of sun-warmed grass, faint sweat, and lavender. His hand slides up my back and rests there.

Giovanna steps close. Cassian lifts his gaze and sees her and he hugs me tighter. And she smiles, he smiles too.

He exhales softly and brings his hand to my cheek. His thumb brushes there, grounding again.

“When will they bloom?” I ask, voice low.

Cassian looks over his shoulder toward the rows of half-buried bulbs.

Before he can answer, Lorenzo calls out.

“He has no idea. Man’s never planted a thing in his life. We are lucky if they sprout straight.”

Cassian lets out a breath through his nose and rests his forehead against mine for a moment, the corners of his mouth turning up.

Allegra steps forward, brushing a strand of hair off her face.

“The meeting?” Cassian asks, his voice quiet again.

“Great,” I say.

“She used the pen,” Allegra adds, shifting the tablet under her arm. “Very effective.”

He nods once. No questions. He’ll hear about it later, probably from Lorenzo.

“It’s too hot,” Lorenzo complains, tugging at the hem of his shirt. “Can we go inside? I need a drink.”

He leans against her slightly, sliding a hand along her waist with the confidence of someone who’s gotten away with it before. She gets his wrist before it climbs higher and steps neatly out of his reach.

“Public area,” she says. “Behave.”

Lorenzo lifts both eyebrows and moves toward the steps, grumbling under his breath.

Cassian stays beside me. His hand remains on my back. I glance to my right.

Giovanna stands just behind me again. She reaches out, and I offer her my hand. Our palms meet, fingers intertwined.

“Well done, birthday girl,” she whispers.

I smile. She squeezes gently.

Her outline softens. Her fingers warm mine once more before the pressure fades.

She dissolves into the quiet like she was always part of it.

The marble cools beneath our feet as we step inside. Allegra sighs the moment we cross the threshold.

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