Page 20 of Shadows of Steel
No one questions the urgency.
No one hesitates.
Maybe I’m the only one who feels just how rushed this is. His words land like a gavel, sealing my fate in a way that feels unsettlingly final.
Dante’s relentless gaze fixed on me like a silent demand. Every time I glance up, I find him watching, as if I’m a puzzle he’s determined to unravel.
Later, I find myself seated in the living room with Giovanni and my brothers, the silence between us thick with unspoken words.Their intentions are unmistakable, evident in the way they watch me, in the reluctance that keeps them from voicing their thoughts. They expect me to stay, yet none of them seem to know how to ask.
Enzo, who had disappeared earlier, has returned, slipping back into the version of himself I had come to know over the past three months, almost. There’s a difference now, something more guarded in his composure, a shift too subtle to name but impossible to ignore.
My grandfather and cousin departed reluctantly, though not without a pointed look and a firm reminder to spend time with my new family, to at least give them a chance.
Dante and Leonardo had also taken their leave, and with their absence, the air felt noticeably lighter, no longer stifling. Yet, the weight of the night remained, pressing in from all sides, as if the very walls bore witness to the seismic shift in my world.
“You should stay here.” Darion says at last, his tone matter-of-fact, though beneath the calm, there’s an unmistakable edge of protectiveness.
Which I don’t fully understand. He only just met me, and he’s made it clear he’s suspicious of the circumstances that led me here.
Niccolò leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his sharp green eyes narrowing slightly. “He’s right. This house is secure. You’ll be safer here.”
I straighten, my resolve unwavering. “I’m going back to my apartment.” I state, my tone leaving no room for argument.
Giovanni shifts, his dark gaze locking onto mine with a gravity that makes it impossible to look away. “It’s not safe.” His voice firm. “Things have changed, Harlow. You need to understand that. Word travels fast. People will already know who you are to us.”
I meet his gaze, unflinching. “I’ve been on my own my entire life, Giovanni. Just because things have changed doesn’t mean I’ve suddenly lost the ability to take care of myself. I’ve done just fine without anyone looking over my shoulder.”
Niccolò sits back, a faint smirk curving his lips, one devoid of humour. “That was before you had a target on your back.”
Darion’s voice is precise. “You’re not just a Moretti anymore, you’re a Ricci now. And if that wasn’t enough, soon you’ll be a Salvatore as well, now that you’re officially engaged to their heir.”
His expression darkens. “That makes you invaluable to three of the most powerful families in our world.”
The weight of their gazes presses down on me, but I refuse to yield. “I appreciate the concern, truly, but I’m not staying,” I say, my voice unwavering. “I can handle myself. I promise.”
Giovanni exhales slowly, his jaw tightening. For all his glacial poise, there’s a flicker of something else beneath thesurface, something almost paternal in the way he studies me. “Harlow.” He says. “You’re part of this family. Whether you like it or not, that means you’re under our protection.”
I don’t miss the steel in his words, but I won’t back down. “I appreciate it,” I repeat, softer this time, “but I’m going back to my place. Please, don’t insist on this.” I push to my feet, ending the discussion.
Enzo rises with me. He’s been silent through most of the conversation, just watching. Now, his expression remains impassive as he states firmly. “If that’s what you want.” His tone is clipped. “I’ll drive you.”
I bid the others a brief goodbye before stepping outside, making my way toward Enzo’s car parked in the driveway.
The ride to my apartment is quiet, the tension thick in the confined space of the car. Neither of us speaks.
When we arrive, Enzo steps out first. I follow, my movement halted by the broad line of his shoulders as he scans the area, his instincts unerring. It’s only then that I notice men already stationed outside my building, standing like sentinels.
Enzo turns to them, his voice clipped. “You don’t leave this post. I don’t care if your shift ends or if the world is burning. If anyone so much as looks at her the wrong way, you handle it.” His tone drops. “And if you screw it up, you’ll answer to me.”
The men stiffen instantly, their expressions shifting to something between fear and unwavering obedience. Enzo steps closer to one of them, his voice dipping into an icy growl. “And if I find out anyone’s been slacking? You’ll wish you hadn’t.”
One of them nods quickly, his voice tight. “Yes, sir. Understood.”
Satisfied, Enzo turns back to me, his expression softening, if only slightly. “Security remains. No arguments. If you refuse to stay at our house, you’ll have guards on you twenty-four-seven.”
I study him, wary. “I don’t think all of this is necessary.”
He tilts his head, considering me for a long moment before his lips press into a thin line. “We’re family, Harlow. Whether you like it or not.”
