Sienna POV
Don Vittorio Bellini stopped and turned back to me, his anger still raw on his face.
“Well?” he said coldly.
“Is Hawthorne’s crowd planning to detain me by force?”
”I wouldn’t dare.” I stood my ground in front of him and stopped circling the point.
“I only wanted to tell you that what Adrian said just now was only half the truth.”
Bellini’s brows drew together.
I glanced around.
What had happened a moment ago had already quieted half the room; eyes kept drifting toward us, pretending not to look.
I didn’t back down.
“It’s true Luca arranged the color of my gown tonight. And yes, I knew your daughter loved the violin, so I chose that piece. I won’t deny any of it.”
His expression didn’t soften.
“But I don’t agree with Adrian that Luca is using your daughter’s death to force your hand.”
”Why not?”
”Before I came here, I went through the files on the port, and I read some of the old coverage about your daughter.
She cared a great deal about the historic buildings in that old harbor district.
She even took part in a campaign to save the old docks.”
The hand gripping his cane tightened, visibly.
Clearly this came closer to the memories he actually treasured than a favorite color or a favorite piece of music ever could.
“She always believed those things shouldn’t be wiped off the map just because the city wanted to grow.”
I held his gaze before going on.
“The port is a business to Hawthorne, of course. The port, the hotels, the real estate, the commercial development around it — all of it is worth a great deal. But if all that’s left standing at the end is new construction and higher margins, then I think that goes against the very thing your daughter cared about.”
I took a folder from the case I’d brought with me.
“I’ve read Hawthorne’s current rebuild plan.” I held it out to him.
“There’s a section in here on the old dock area. If you’re willing, we could preserve a few of those historic structures and turn them into a small maritime museum, or a cultural center. It doesn’t have to be anything grand. But at least the place would still carry a trace of what it used to be.”
Bellini didn’t take the folder.
He only looked at me.
“Did you think this up yourself?”
”Part of it.
I just believe that if this land is going to be redeveloped anyway, there ought to be one corner left where people can still learn what it once was.” I paused, and let my voice go quieter.
“If your daughter were still here, I think she’d like that outcome.”
His eyes finally dropped to the document.
The ballroom had gone so still that all I could hear was conversation from far across the room.
A long moment passed before he reached out and took it.
Seconds later, Bellini raised his head and looked toward Luca, who stood some distance away.
He hadn’t come over to interrupt.
He had simply stood there and waited.
“I’ll give Hawthorne a chance.”
Luca walked over.
“Thank you.”
Bellini lifted a hand to stop him.
“Don’t thank me yet.” His gaze swept past Adrian, farther off.
“The Morettis get the same chance.”
Adrian stood on the other side of the crowd.
At that, the corner of his mouth curved up.
Bellini went on, “I don’t care who has more money, and I don’t care who carries more weight in this city. Put your real proposals in front of me.” He looked at Luca.
“I’ll decide for myself.”
Luca nodded.
Bellini handed the folder to the man at his side and turned to leave.
The evening had been close to spinning out of control; now, at least, there was still an opening.
A low laugh came from behind me.
“Interesting.”
I turned.
Adrian was walking toward us, his glass turning lazily in his hand.
The open provocation from earlier was gone from his face, replaced by something closer to genuine interest.
“Luca, if it weren’t for her, your night would already be over. Seems Hawthorne has taken on someone worthwhile lately.”
He raised his glass and walked away without another word.
I watched him go, and his praise did nothing to ease me.
If anything, it put me more on guard.
That man had noticed me.
And I wasn’t sure that was a good thing.
The car was silent all the way back to the hotel.
Luca sat beside me, eyes closed, head against the seat.
I thought the night was finally finished.
“Do you know Adrian?”
Something in me pulled tight.
There it was.
I turned my head.
“No.”
Luca opened his eyes and looked at me.
“First time meeting him?”
”First time.”
”Then why did he keep looking at you?”
I faltered.
I hadn’t expected him to notice that too.
“Maybe because I was standing next to you tonight.” I smiled, trying to keep it light.
“Adrian is your rival. Of course he’d pay attention to the people around you.”
Luca said nothing.
His eyes stayed on my face, and my explanation clearly hadn’t convinced him.
I shifted a little closer to him.
“There’s another possibility.”
His brow lifted.
“What?”
I laughed despite myself.
“Isn’t it obvious? A beautiful woman walks into a place like that, people are going to look twice.” I cupped his face with both hands, forcing him to look at me.
“Or do you think I’m not beautiful?”
The space in the back seat collapsed all at once.
Luca didn’t pull away.
He only looked down at me, his gaze moving from my eyes to my mouth and back again.
I blinked at him, deliberately.
“Well?”
He was silent for two seconds.
“Passable.”
”Only passable?”
”You’ve had too much to drink.”
He caught my wrist and lifted my hands off his face.
Not rough, but leaving me no room to keep playing.
I settled back against the seat, still smiling.
Luca closed his eyes again.
“Behave yourself.”