From the moment that they arrived at the venue, Natale was swept up in the action, nearly tackled to the floor by Ericka before her friend dragged her off into the utter chaos of the backstage crush. Salvatore waded in behind them, managing to keep her within arm’s reach at every moment. He scanned the crowd and watched as Natale and Ericka directed the ever-shifting crowds behind the scenes at the show.

There were moments when he’d see her wince, or tug at her sleeve, but she never complained, and even when the noise rose up to a fevered pitch and he had trouble trying to pick out the individual conversations, she took it all in stride.

As the dressers finished their tasks, Ericka began to herd the models into their lineups., Salvatore took Natale by the shoulder and drew her to his side.

Before she could catch her breath, he leaned down and gave her a kiss on her cheek, and then her lips. “I love you.”

Her sigh caressed his neck and her hand settled over his heart, leaning into the wall of muscle to feel his rapid heartbeat beneath her palm. “I love you right back, Salvatore, and tonight,” she reminded him, “you promised me that you’d show me.”

He hesitated for a moment, but she didn’t seem to notice, tugging on his shirt until he leaned down and met her lips for another kiss.

“Okay, you can come with me to the monitor,” she told him, “but after the show if you want to follow me onto the catwalk, things are going to get interesting.”

Salvatore saw the cheeky humor in her eyes. “No,” he shook his head, “I think you’re safe now. I’m just here to see this for myself. To support you and your company.”

She smiled up at him, and gave his shoulder a gentle pat of her hand. “The ladies will be glad to hear that, they like having you around. Me too, if I’m telling the truth.”

Natale walked over to Ericka and gave the other woman a warm hug. They hooked their pinky fingers and leaned toward each other until they bumped their noses with a laugh. He couldn’t hear what they were whispering to each other over the din of the room, but he knew that Natale was happy and loved, and that’s all that mattered to him now.

Giovanni Durante entered from a side door and walked along the line up of models, his keen eye for fashion taking in the whole line as he moved to the front. He stopped there, took his daughter by the shoulders and pressed a reverent kiss on one cheek and then the other. Salvatore didn’t need to hear the words exchanged between the two. He could see the pride in her father’s eyes and saw the warm blush on Natale’s cheeks. With a quick word to Ericka, Giovanni took the microphone from her hand and stepped out onto the runway.

Even from the backstage area, he could see the overhead spotlights flare to life in front of the temporary wall and heard the excited round of applause from the assembled crowd.

Stepping up to Natale’s side, Salvatore watched as the silver-haired patriarch of Durante Fashion House walked onto the runway. With his elegant midnight blue suit and ivory pocket square, his presence brought the crowd to a silent anticipation that held everyone in its thrall.

“I would like to thank you all for coming to see our show. Durante Fashion House has had a long and storied history. From Italy to America, we have always given our heart and soul to fashion. It has been our goal to provide fine clothing to not only adorn but inspire our clients.

“Today, we enter a new era. Today, we begin a new journey. We will breathe new life, not only into the company, but the lives of our customers. We’ve set aside the notion that true fashion can only be made and worn by one kind of woman. We have a collection of clothing to make every woman feel as beautiful on the outside as they are on the inside. We give you Bellezza!”

The music began as Giovanni stepped off the runway and down a short flight of stairs to his seat on the end of the front row.

As Salvatore watched the monitor, Ericka and Natale guided the models onto the runway and when they returned, pointed them to their dressers for the second round of garments.

He worried for the first half of the show, but as they neared the end, he turned to look at Natale and saw the happy smile on her face and the silvery tears gathering on Ericka’s lashes. Reaching out her hand, Ericka took Natale’s hand and gave it a squeeze. Turning their attention to the models they directed them toward the stage once they were dressed in their second looks.

The remaining number of models ticked away until the last ran up to get in line, turning back to give Natale a kiss on her cheek. He remembered the woman from one of his days in the workroom, a woman named LaVonne. As she stepped up onto the runway for her second and final pass, Natale breathed a sigh of relief and looked over her shoulder at him. “We did it.” She mouthed the words, but he heard them in his ear and nodded. LaVonne made her way down the catwalk, stopped at the end to show off the garment to the photographers who were likely trying to blind the woman, before she turned around and headed back. The other models had taken their place and marched down the runway in single file, clapping as they went. LaVonne took Natale’s hand and led her onto the runway. At first, Natale balked at the gesture and then she followed along, walking beside the model.

When they reached the end of the runway, the crowd went wild. The number of camera flashes seemed to triple as Natale half-squinted into the maddening rhythm of light. Then she was heading back down the runway, her smile beaming at the crowd.

Just when she was a step away from the archway that led to the backstage area, Giovanni Durante met her on the runway.

Natale looked up into her father’s eyes, searching his intent gaze for his reaction. She didn’t have to wait long.

Giovanni Durante reached out and grabbed his daughter up in a tight embrace and pressed a series of kisses on her cheek that left nothing about his reaction to the show to anyone’s imagination. The crowd, it seemed, was in complete agreement and a second enthusiastic round of applause began, bringing Natale to grateful tears as her father led her backstage.

* * *

Valerio arrived with his medical bag in tow, but even before he set it down on the table he knew that there was only one thing in the bag that was going to do any good. Reaching into the side pocket, he withdrew the vial and syringe before he approached his brother. “What happened?”

Glaring at the young woman huddled in the corner, he darted a pointed look to his brother. “She tried to leave.”

Taking in the broken bottle and jagged pieces of glass on the floor, Valerio turned his attention to the blood stains on Uberto’s shirt cuff. “You gave her glass?”

“The vending machines were a little on the antiquated side. Plastic just isn’t their thing.”

Valerio nodded. “And after she came at you?”

A flare of light entered Uberto’s eyes a moment before they bled black. When he smiled he bared more than a hint of fang and Caprice hid her head behind her arms. “I gave her a look at who she was really dealing with.”

“He tried to eat me!” She wailed from the corner and Valerio flinched. His ears were ringing. “He’s going to do it. He’s going to rip me to pieces!”

Valerio looked her over and drew in a breath. “None of the blood is hers,” he gave his brother a wan smile, “I’m impressed at your restraint.”

Uberto tried to shrug off the compliment. “Natale wouldn’t have liked it. She would have been upset. I can’t imagine why, but she really cares for the witch.”

Nudging his brother with a well-placed elbow, Valerio chuckled. “Well, you haven’t tried to kill me, but you’ve tried to gut me a few times, and I still love you.”

Stepping away, Uberto retreated to the other side of the room. “Get her under control and we’ll move her.”

Valerio’s speed enabled him to reach her side before she could do more than stand. She turned her eyes up into his face. “Wait… wait.” She gasped in her breaths. “Wait... you’re his brother, aren’t you?”

He gave her a nod and a smile. “And Salvatore as well.” Inserting the needle into the bottle, he filled the syringe with the dosage. “We’re all the same,” he looked over his shoulder at Uberto, “my brother shouldn’t have scared you like that.”

“The hell I shouldn’t! She tried to kill Natale,” Uberto growled deep in his chest, “twice.”

The vibrations seemed to hit Caprice and turned her head toward the sound. Uberto curled his lip back and she pulled back suddenly.

“Hold still,” Valerio gripped her arm tighter trying to hold her in place, “I don’t want to hurt you.”

She didn’t listen, tugging on her arm. The needle twisted and when he pulled it free blood splattered on her arm. Frustration and fresh scent of blood assaulted his senses, filling his bear with a hungry need. He managed to keep the bear out of his eyes and held back the fangs that begged to be freed.

The growl shocked him, rolling from his throat and shaking him down to the soles of his feet.

“You’re one too, aren’t you?” Her eyes widened and her mouth opened and closed a few times, silently gasping for air. “You’re a-”

“A bear,” Uberto’s eyes darkened as he appeared beside her, his hand clamping down on her shoulder. “You should learn not to poke a bear, Caprice. Because we, poke back.”

Valerio saw his brother’s eyes fade back into the bear and heard a rough gurgling noise from Caprice’s throat as her eyes rolled white. He caught her as she went limp in his arms, mouthing silent words. He glared up at his brother. “I think you broke her.”

Uberto shrugged. “She came after our family. We usually don’t let them live, so this is as good as she’s going to get from me.”

Finding it hard to argue, Valerio nodded, but as he began to approach Caprice held up her hands as if they were claws, cutting through the air toward one and then the other brother.

Frustrated, Uberto waved a dismissive hand. “Sedate her so she doesn’t get herself hurt trying to hurt us.”

Valerio hesitated a moment. “And then? I don’t think we can chance turning her over to the police. We don’t know what she’ll say.”

Uberto couldn’t argue. His brother had a point. “There’s a hospital in Italy near our village. Quiet, discreet. They’ll do what they can for her.”

“Someone should speak with Mr. Durante first. He’s her closest kin. I’ll let Salvatore know so he can explain.”

* * *

Once Salvatore received the text from Uberto, he’d escorted father and daughter to the car to give them the news. Giovanni was taken aback by the news and remained quiet and contemplative as they drove to Natale’s building.

Her father opened the door to her apartment, but stepped back to let Salvatore turn off the alarm. Natale took the arm her father offered and walked in beside him, leaning her head on his shoulder.

Giovanni pressed a kiss to her forehead. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m trying to come to grips with what Caprice did. I had no idea she hated me so much.” She stepped away and set her purse down on the table beside the door. When she looked back at her father she was smiling. “But, the show… I’m so relieved! I knew we had a strong collection when I saw the way the models looked, but I didn’t expect the kind of reception we received.”

Fishing his phone from his suitcoat pocket, Giovanni looked down at the screen with a confident nod. “The orders are still pouring in.” He looked up at his daughter with a proud smile. “I knew you were talented. I knew you had a unique vision. I expected a good show and solid reviews. I hoped for orders strong enough to keep us working toward the next show.” He walked up to his daughter and set the phone in her hands.

Her hands were shaking as she swept through the messages from their sales staff. The titles from fashion blog reviews made her tear up. Durante and Bellezza were trending on social media sites. The orders were already four times what they needed to keep afloat.

“Your mother,” her father draped his arm over her shoulders, “would be so proud of you. You were always her light and now you are a light to the world.”

Natale turned into his embrace and gave him a big kiss on his cheek. “And you were my rock and my support. I know we both miss Mama but you have always been there for me. If it wasn’t for your encouragement I would never have gone after my dreams.”

Giovanni shook his head. “You would have, because even with all you’ve been through, you live and breathe hope and strength. You are the embodiment of Bellezza and its success is all yours.”

“Thank you, Papa.”

Looking at the clock, Giovanni stood and reached down to his daughter, brushing her cheek with the back of his hand. “I’ll be on my way home.” Gathering his coat he turned his gaze to Salvatore. “Mr. Orsino, would you like to walk out with me?”

Salvatore met her eyes for a moment before he addressed her father first. “I was planning to stay, unless Natale would like to come to my home.”

She remained still on the couch, stunned by his words.

“Either way, I don’t plan to leave her again, not tonight, not anytime in the future.”

Narrowing his eyes, Giovanni gave the young man a stern look. “I don’t approve of a casual living situation with my daughter. She deserves-”

“I am well aware of her value, sir, just as I am aware that I don’t deserve her.” He gave her a look that said he meant every word, and as she watched, a little bit of his bear entered his eyes, adding his tacit approval as well. “I plan to prove my worth to her, every day, for the rest of our lives.”

Salvatore waited, somewhat patiently for Natale’s father to speak. When he finally did, his measuring look changed into a grudging smile. “I can tell by Natale’s expression that she’s made up her mind. She likely made it up days ago if I’m any judge of my stubborn girl, and I think I am.” He settled his gaze on Salvatore again. “I’ll have you know that if you hurt my daughter, I don’t care how big or imposing you are. I will cut you down to size on sheer will alone.”

He held out his hand as he crossed the room to her father, smiling as the elder man took hold and gave it a solid shake. “If I hurt her, I will gladly let you.”

Giovanni held out his hand to his daughter and she met him at the door, giving him a loving hug and a kiss on his cheek. “I love you, Papa.”

“And I you, Vita Mia. You deserve to live your dreams and I think you are well on your way to having them come true.”

“And perhaps,” she moved away from her father and stepped into the circle of Salvatore’s arms, “finding the kind of happiness that you and Mama had together.”

“Then,” Giovanni sighed as he gazed at his daughter, “you are truly blessed. Goodnight, Natale.”

He stepped outside and closed the door before she could answer. She felt that he was overwhelmed, perhaps as much as she was.

Lifting her gaze to meet Salvatore’s, Natale wondered aloud. “You want me to go to your apartment tonight?”

They both turned to look at the clock.

Pressing a kiss to her temple he leaned back to look in her eyes. “It would only take a few minutes to drive there from here,” he explained, “but I would rather remain here tonight and hold you in my arms sooner, rather than later.”

She shrugged, the motion pushing on his muscular arms. “But I’m already in your arms.”

He drew her closer and held her against his body, carefully fitting every inch of her curves against his. It wasn’t enough, he needed more. He needed to be closer to her. To have every inch of skin bare against her.

He just wasn’t sure she was ready.