Page 131 of Ruined By Blood
I think about the man who reads classic literature with his mother's notes in the margins, who taught me to play Uno with dramatic flair, who holds me through nightmares without complaint.
"I know exactly who you are," I whisper, stretching up to kiss him softly.
He deepens the kiss instantly, one hand sliding up my back while the other cups my face. For a moment, I forget all about the Sartoris, about responsibilities, about anything beyond the taste of him.
When he pulls back, his pupils are dilated, and his thumb traces my lower lip. "We really should go."
I nod, trying to collect myself. "Yes, we should."
Neither of us moves.
"Riccardo values punctuality," he reminds me, though his hand is now sliding down my side, tracing the curve of my waist.
"Absolutely," I agree, even as my fingers slip beneath his suit jacket, feeling the warmth of him through his shirt. "Very important to make a good impression."
Our eyes meet in the mirror again—his dark and intent, mine bright with something that might be happiness.
"Five more minutes," Enzo decides, turning me back toward the mirror, his hands possessive on my hips. "Just five."
Iwalk alongside Enzo toward the balcony of the Sartori mansion, his hand resting lightly against my back. The estate rivals the Feretti compound in size and grandeur, though the style here leans more toward modern minimalism with its sleek glass surfaces and clean lines.
"There they are," Enzo murmurs as we step onto the expansive balcony overlooking manicured gardens. "Right on time."
Riccardo Sartori stands by the railing, drink in hand, his salt-and-pepper hair catching the golden light of sunset. Beside him, his wife Ava looks elegant in a simple black dress, her dark hair swept into a sophisticated updo. And lounging in one of the plush chairs is Vittoria, Riccardo's younger sister, with her signature pixie cut and an outfit that somehow manages to be both edgy and appropriate for the occasion.
"Enzo," Riccardo greets, stepping forward to shake his hand firmly. "And Sienna. Lovely to see you both again."
I offer a small smile, still getting used to these social situations. "Thank you for having us."
"How's little Sofia doing?" Ava asks, handing me a glass of white wine. "I've been meaning to stop by with another gift, but I hear new parents need space more than presents."
"She's beautiful," I reply, accepting the wine with a grateful nod. "And loud. Very, very loud."
This draws laughter from the group, and I feel some of the tension in my shoulders ease. I've met the Sartoris before at the casino opening in July, but this dinner feels more intimate, more significant somehow.
"I still can't believe Damiano Feretti is changing diapers," Vittoria chimes in, her bright green eyes dancing with amusement. "The world truly is full of surprises."
Enzo smirks. "If you told me a year ago that my brother would be singing lullabies at three in the morning, I'd have questioned your sanity."
"And how are you adjusting to taking point on our joint ventures?" Riccardo asks, gesturing for us to take seats around the table. "The transition has been smooth from our perspective."
I watch Enzo shift into business mode, his posture straightening slightly as he discusses the casino operations and several other ventures I'm still learning about. I sip my wine and listen, admiring how easily he navigates these waters.
"The renovations on the west wing of the casino are on schedule," Enzo is saying. "The new high-limit rooms should be operational by next month."
"Excellent," Riccardo nods. "And the new staff training program Ava developed?"
"Implemented across all departments," Enzo confirms. "Turnover has decreased by twelve percent already."
Ava smiles, pleased. "That's even better than I projected."
"Sienna," Vittoria says, turning her attention to me, "Ava mentioned you're taking photography classes at the university? How's that going?"
I feel a flash of pride. "It's challenging but wonderful. My professor has already asked if I'd consider submitting work to the student exhibition next semester."
"You should," Ava encourages. "From what I've seen of your work, you have a unique perspective."
"That abandoned factory series was particularly striking," Riccardo adds, surprising me with his knowledge of my photography.
