“I can’t stay here forever, Dante,” I said.

“You will stay until Marcus is found and the Valentis are dealt with,” he replied.

He turned to a maid standing near the doorway. “Show her to the east wing guest room. Ensure she has everything she needs.”

The maid bowed her head. “Yes, Mr. Russo.”

I followed her up the stairs, feeling Dante’s eyes on my back the entire way.

The guest room was enormous, with a king-sized bed and a fire crackling in the hearth.

But to me, it felt like a gilded cage.

I walked to the en-suite bathroom and closed the door, leaning my back against it.

In the mirror, my face looked ghostly.

I placed both hands over my stomach, tears finally stinging my eyes.

“We’re going to be okay,” I whispered to the empty room.

A sudden knock on the bathroom door made me gasp.

I held my breath, my hands freezing over my stomach.

“Alessia?”

It was Dante’s voice, low and steady through the heavy wood.

I let my hands drop to my sides and smoothed down my oversized sweater.