Allegra heard someone call her name when she stepped out onto the street.

“Allegra! Wait there.”

Smiling, Allegra waited for Natale to reach her side.

“What are you doing here?”

Taking her arm, Natale gave it a squeeze. “Salvatore and I came to pick you up and bring you back home.”

“Salvatore? Really, why?”

“Because you’re family.” The low rumble of sound beyond the warmth of Natale against her side. “Unless you have any errands that we may help with, we can bring you home.”

Home.

As odd as it sounded, it felt good too.

“If you’re busy, I can catch a cab or-”

“Busy? Never too busy for you.” Natale’s voice was a rush of enthusiasm. “Maybe you’ll let us take you to get something to eat on the way.”

Allegra couldn’t help but smile at the bright tone of Natale’s voice. She was completely the opposite from Salvatore in that regard. He was a deep, dark rumbling bass and Natale was a warm-hearted mezzo, full of sharps and syncopated rhythms.

“I’m fine, thank you.” Allegra surrendered herself to Natale’s enthusiasm as she led her toward the car. “Where’s Valerio?”

“See, Salvatore? I told you she couldn’t help herself.” Natale took Allegra’s hand and set it on the frame of the car. “The door’s right here, Allegra.”

Allegra got in and moved over so that Natale could come in after her. It only took a few more seconds to get everyone inside.

“Anyway,” Natale started to speak when the car pulled away from the curb, “Val wanted us to make sure you got home safely. He and Uberto are on a plane.”

“A plane?” Allegra couldn’t help the shock that staggered her. “Where to?”

She heard a moment of hesitation in the silence of the car.

Salvatore answer the question. “Geneva.”

“Geneva.” The word settled on her shoulders like bricks. “Is that where Lance is?”

“The court ordered his parents to divulge his location.”

“Salvatore!” Natale laughed. “His voice makes it sound so much more ominous than it is.” Allegra heard a solid whack. “Try not to scare her, okay?”

“Sorry.”

Allegra heard a note of humor in his voice.

“I wasn’t trying to scare you.”

“It’s not your fault.” Her mind was already working over the bits and pieces in her head. The note said that her ‘dog’ had gone to his parents. Valerio had gone to see the Singletons. She cringed, understanding what that visit had likely been like. Before the trial, she’d only met Erik and Lana Singleton a few times when they’d come to student performances. They didn’t come to other events, the small personal interactions at school. No, the Singletons had a public image to protect. They came for the high-profile moments and that was all that mattered.

In the court, she could almost feel their eyes on her when they were in the room. She had a feeling that Mrs. Singleton hated her the most. Allegra had been the woman who had seduced her son and the woman who he had intended to perform with around the world. She was, as Mrs. Singleton had called her on the stand, ‘an interloper of the worst kind. A woman with a hippy name and rotund figure who should have thanked her stars that a man as fine and talented and handsome as Lance was had even taken notice of her in the first place.’

The trouble was, she felt that way. Felt that way.

But that was a long time ago.

That was before she woke up in a hospital bed only to find out that the rest of her life was going to be in the dark.

“Can’t you have them just turn around?” She felt a tightness in her chest. “They don’t have to go and see him. It’s not necessary.”

There was a pall over the mood in the car, a grey moody fog that she felt as if it lay over her skin. “What are you worried about?” Salvatore’s voice was cautious and she felt as if he was watching her carefully to see her reaction.

“I’m worried about Valerio.”

“Worried?” This time it was Natale who shifted over from one bench seat to sit beside her. “Why?”

Allegra felt Natale’s fingers fit between hers, offering strength. And she took it gladly. Turning toward Salvatore, she answered. “I don’t want your brothers to get hurt. Lance can seem so sweet and sincere.” She pulled her hand free from Natale and fumbled for her purse to look for her phone, but the anxiety riding her emotions made it extremely difficult to pull it out of her purse. She dropped it twice before she heard Natale’s calm voice in her ear.

“Here, use my phone.” Allegra felt Natale take a hold of her wrist and set the phone in her hand. “It’s dialing.”

The call went to voicemail and Allegra left Valerio a short message. She didn’t have to be long-winded at a time like that. Actually, she worried that a long-winded explanation would only dilute the strength of her conviction.

“If you have to talk to him, don’t turn your back on him.” When she pulled the phone away from her ear she held it out toward Natale. “Thank you.”

“Happy to help,” Natale pointed out. “You’re one of us now.”

Allegra didn’t want to tell Natale that wasn’t how she felt. Not at all like one of them. Things were changing too soon, too fast. She felt confused, worried. The notes. They weren’t helping either. If anything, it was likely a horrible prank. The early morning visit from the police? Just to see if she was willingly living with Valerio?

An odd thought filtered through her brain. Maybe the notes were from Mrs. Singleton? She’d been the coldest of the two, speaking in the press until the court had ordered her to stop. She’d accused Allegra of playing games with Lance. It would make sense that it was his mother. She certainly knew enough to send the notes. Making her afraid would be just what Lana Singleton would enjoy. Unbidden, a memory surfaced and replayed in her head like an mp3 file. “Young women play so many games in this day and age. They seduce and control, they tease, and then when they’re done with a young man they throw them away like trash. Maybe it’s time that she knows what it feels like.”

It could be as easy as that, Lana was just trying to upset her, get under her skin, hold her hostage with fear.

That seemed more likely than Lance coming back. He’d begun a new life after he left prison. Why would he come back to New York? Why would he come back after her?

She knew she didn’t have all the answers, but she’d also been kept in the dark by Valerio. Visiting the Singletons, going to the court, what else didn’t she know?

Allegra felt like she was losing control over her life again… or maybe she’d never really had any control in the first place.

A nagging ache in her stomach had her closing her eyes and trying to fall asleep on the way back to the Orsino penthouse.

* * *

Valerio entered the penthouse and looked over at his bedroom door. It was closed and he hoped Allegra was asleep on the other side of it. He’d received a call from Natale while he’d been on his way back in the Corvi Industries jet. Natale had expressed some concern about Allegra.

After they’d picked her up from rehearsal, she’d retreated into herself a bit. It wasn’t anything specific that Natale could pinpoint, but she thought he’d appreciate the information and he did.

His earlier decision to hide the truth about her apartment from her was weighing heavily on him. His instinct had been to protect her. She had already been hurt physically and emotionally. Did she need to know that all of her belongings were gone?

He’d covered well with her clothing by having Natale create and buy an entire new wardrobe. If he could just keep the horrible details to himself until after her debut concert, he would handle the trouble then. She deserved to have a life that wasn’t steeped in misery.

And he was going to give it to her, even if it meant keeping things from her for a few days.

Pushing open the door to their bedroom, Valerio let his eyes adjust to the darkness.

He worked his shirt buttons loose after setting his coat aside and reached for the button on his trousers. Being this close to Allegra, and having been apart from her for more than a day, his need for her bore down on him like a rockslide, the weight crushing at his chest.

Drawing down the zipper of his pants, he hissed when he was finally able to gather his thoughts. He wanted to touch her, be inside of her, but he wanted to care for her first. He crossed through the bedroom and into the bathroom, quietly closing the door behind him so that Allegra could continue to sleep.

Stepping into the spray he lifted his face into it and let it rush over his body for a few minutes before he reached for the soap.

The bathroom door clicked open and he turned, the water rushing over his scalp and down over his eyes, but he could still see Allegra.

Standing in the doorway, her hand on the frame, he could feel the tension rolling off of her in waves.

“Allegra?”

“I,” she hesitated, and her tongue swept over her bottom lip, “I wish I could see you.” She laughed a little. “It’s really strange, you know? The way that I am… I would never have thought… someone like you… someone like me.” She turned her head away and started to move back toward the bed.

“Allegra?” He tried to keep his tone even, to make her feel comfortable, but both sides of him wanted more than just to comfort her. “Don’t go.”

He watched her hesitate and he moved through the spray slowly, watching her. He saw other signs in the way she held her body. The pinch between her shoulder blades. The tightness in her cheeks, her jaw. The way she swallowed over and over.

Valerio shut off the water and reached for a towel. “I’m coming out to you.”

She took a step back, a hand waving him off. “Don’t. I’m okay. Take your shower. I’m… I’m just going to go back to sleep.”

He saw the signs. She was too upset to sleep.

“Let me talk to you.”

He saw her hesitation again, the shift of her jaw as she ground her teeth together. And then the subtle shake of her head. “I don’t want to interrupt your shower.”

“You’re not.” Valerio stepped outside and swept the towel over his hair. “I was about to come to bed. I’ve missed you.”

“I missed you, too.”

She looked like the admission hurt and that worried him. He let the towel slip from his fingers as he crossed the room and braced his hands on the doorframe. “Allegra?”

She shook, perhaps a little startled and by the scent he inhaled into his lungs, more than a little aroused. “Hmm... yeah?”

He leaned closer, brushing his cheek against hers until his lips closed over her sensitive earlobe. “Put your hands on me. Please put your hands on me.”

Her mouth opened on a moan and the scent of her arousal filled him, pushed more blood through his veins. He was harder than he’d ever been and desperately in need of her, but only when she was ready.

She reached for him, trailing her fingers over his chest.

And then she hesitated.

“Allegra? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” The answer came too quickly. Her tone a little harsh. “Nothing.”

He lowered his hands and bent to pick up the towel.

She drew in a breath. “Stop, don’t go.”

He stood but didn’t try to reach for her. “I’m not going anywhere, Allegra. Tell me what’s wrong.”

“Did you go and see his parents?”

He hesitated and then answered her. “Yes.”

“And then you went to court to get his information.”

“Yes.”

“And…”

He could feel her frustration, but before he could ask her about it, she continued.

“And then you and your brother went all the way to Geneva?”

“‘Berto will remain to watch him. Make sure he stays put until we figure out who is trying to hurt you.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” She lifted her hands and slipped her fingers through her hair, yanking through the tangles. “Why did I have to find out through-” she stopped suddenly, hesitating again. “Why did I have to find out from Salvatore?”

“Once we found out I had to make arrangements and get on the plane. Allegra, I didn’t want to upset you.”

“And Lance? You found him?”

“He’s there in Geneva.” He couldn’t help the growl in his voice. “And he’s going to stay there.”

“Yeah,” she swallowed, “I’m sure he will, but I doubt Uberto is happy about being away from home.”

He touched her shoulder and froze when she pulled away. “What’s wrong?”

“I,” she stepped back and stumbled a bit, warding off his help, “I don’t know.”

She turned and made her way back to the bed, using her fingertips to walk along the edge before she came to the night stand and picked up her purse.

Valerio paused just a few feet away, his heart hammering in his chest, his bear pacing in erratic circles inside of his mind.

She set her purse back down and turned in a little half circle, orienting herself. Moving to the closet she reached in and grabbed her coat, pulling it from the hanger. She crossed the room and reached for her phone turning it on. The automated assistant answered her verbal command.

HOW MAY I HELP YOU?

“Allegra, wait.” He hated doing it, but he pulled the phone from her hand and set it down. “Talk to me.”

“There’s nothing to talk about. I just… things are moving… have moved too fast.” She searched for the phone and he turned her hand and set it on her palm. “I know I care about you, Valerio. So much.” She shook her head. “Too much.”

He wanted to say something but he didn’t want to interrupt until she’d had her say.

“And I’m feeling out of control… like I can’t catch my breath.”

She set her hand down on his and gave it a little squeeze.

“Can you understand what I’m saying?”

He nodded and lifted their hands, cupping his other hand around her. “I understand only too well.” He drew in a breath and let it out. “When I’m around you I can’t catch my breath, either.”

“I had time to think while you were gone,” she explained. “When you’re close to me, when you’re touching me, I can’t think. I feel everything like it’s amplified, expanding, pulling me under. The air feels solid. My feelings like an ocean wave knocking me off my feet and to tell you the truth, I’ve never learned how to swim.”

“Allegra-”

“I just need a day,” she began and shook her head, “a few days to feel like I’m standing on my own two feet. To feel like I’ve had time to think instead of just feeling everything like a live wire.”

“We have guest rooms. I can sleep in one of those.”

“No,” she tugged at her hand, but instead of pulling it from his gentle touch, she turned her hand to fit their fingers together, “I’m not chasing you from your bedroom. That’s not what I’m talking about.” He kept quiet as he argued with his bear. The beast roared his displeasure, shoving a thick shoulder against their bond. “I talked to Jane earlier. She said I could stay with her until the concert. We need some time to work together outside of the group rehearsals anyway.”

“But this is also because of me.”

She nodded and then shrugged, but he could tell it wasn’t that easy. Her face looked tired, her eyes guarded and Valerio felt her hand go a little cold. “Lance was one man on the outside and one man on the inside. I know you’re not like him, you’d never do what he did, I just-”

“You just need some time.”

He heard the dull tone of his voice, felt the heavy pounding of his heart in his chest. Felt the fear creep up and choke off the air he needed to breathe.

“I need to concentrate and with you, everything I feel,” she gulped in a breath as she started to shake, “is so much more. I need to bring things back to normal, just for a little bit.”

Normal. Normal to him was just an empty hole in the center of his soul. A hole that only Allegra had been able to fill with her touch, her music, her light.

“I want to give you guards. You need to have guards.”

She nodded slowly. “If it will make you feel better.”

He shook his head and tasted blood as his fangs scored the inside of his lips. He was thankful that she couldn’t see. He knew that if she did, she would likely have been afraid of him. His bear had pushed through enough that he knew that his face, his skin, was just a mask stretched thin over the wild animal. He knew his eyes and teeth had already made the change.

When he opened his mouth to speak, he wasn’t sure what would come out of his throat.

“Will you stay the night?”

He saw the change in her face. The pain that flickered across and then settled on her features. Felt the tremors in her body.

What slayed him, flayed open his pain, was the single tear that fell from her sightless eyes as she nodded. “Hold me in your arms?”

He would have done anything she asked. Anything.

Peeling back the covers on the bed, he gently nudged her up on the feather-soft bed and watched with hungry eyes as she laid her head on the pillow and tucked her knees up against her stomach.

He felt his bear growl within him, the protective instinct riding both of them hard. Crawling in behind her, he laid his naked body on the crisp sheets and slid an arm over her shoulder, just under the pillow. His other arm drew the sheet and thin blanket over their bodies before he reached around her body, tucking it just under the generous swell of her breasts.

Her satisfied sigh and the soft caress of her cheek on his bicep made him rock hard against the luscious curve of her backside. “Valerio?”

He answered with a kiss on her bare shoulder.

“Thank you.”

He trembled against her. “For?”

“For listening to me.” She snuggled back against his chest. “For giving me some space.”

“You are my mate, Allegra. I would do anything for you.”