Chapter 1 - Never Touch Me in Public
Serena’s fingers had barely touched Roman Duca’s forearm when he looked down at them.
“Never touch me in public.”
She removed her hand immediately.
“All right.”
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Behind the open balcony doors, music drifted through the ballroom. Crystal chandeliers threw warm light across three hundred guests dressed in black tie and diamonds. Senators laughed beside judges. Developers whispered to men whose names rarely appeared in newspapers.
Roman belonged there.
Serena had spent six years learning how to belong beside him.
She stood in her burgundy silk gown with her shoulders straight and her champagne glass steady. Family diamonds rested at her ears and throat. Her face was composed.
Only Roman knew how much effort that composure required.
“You're upset,” he said.
“No.”
“Serena.”
She looked at him.
“You told me not to touch you.”
Roman's jaw tightened.
“That isn't what I meant.”
“It sounded very clear.”
His phone vibrated.
He looked at the screen.
Everything about him changed.
The warmth, however small, disappeared. His shoulders hardened. His eyes moved toward the buildings across the street.
Serena noticed.
“What happened?”
“Nothing.”
She almost laughed.
Nothing was the word Roman used whenever the truth was dangerous.
He had built his empire that way.
Nothing meant a man had disappeared.
Nothing meant a business had changed hands.
Nothing meant Roman had spent the night in a locked room and returned with blood on his cuff.
Serena had never asked.
That was part of their marriage.
She stepped past him.
“I'm going inside.”
Roman caught her wrist.
She froze.
He released her almost immediately.
His eyes searched hers.
“I didn't mean to hurt you.”
“You did.”
Then she walked away.
Inside the ballroom, Serena smiled at every person who greeted her.
She accepted compliments.
She laughed softly.
She danced once with an elderly senator's wife.
Nobody noticed her hands were trembling.
Then a waiter approached.
“Mrs. Duca?”
“Yes?”
“There is a gentleman asking for you.”
“Who?”
The waiter looked toward the far end of the ballroom.
A tall man in a black suit stood near the entrance.
He was not smiling.
“I don't know, ma'am.”
Serena stared at him.
The stranger lifted one hand.
And Roman, still standing on the balcony, saw exactly who it was.
His face went completely still.
The stranger began walking toward Serena.
Roman's phone vibrated again.
This time the message contained only four words.
HE FOUND YOUR WIFE.
May you like
Roman looked up.
The stranger was already reaching for Serena's hand...
