She couldn’t really explain her urge to have the limbo of her brother’s death put into legal black and white. It had been an intolerable hum of sadness and a slow bubble of frustration—like an itch under her skin that she couldn’t scratch. She’d known she couldn’t wait around for Valerio to return and decide to accept that Duarte’s death was a reality.
But now, on this dark, secluded part of the yacht, a part of her became suddenly painfully aware of the fact that she had put herself in a vulnerable position, out here alone without any of her security team.
Fiero stood up, taking a few steps to close the gap between them. Dani fought the urge to stand and run, taking note of his distance from her and feeling the weight of the empty champagne glass in her hands. She was alone, but she was not incapable of self-defence. She straightened her shoulders, meeting his gaze with what she hoped was a perfectly calm expression.
‘I came here tonight to give you a warning. If you value your life, stop digging into things that don’t concern you.’
Dani inhaled sharply at the threat, watching as the older man turned to walk away.
His route was suddenly barred by the arrival of three security guards in the doorway and a thunder-faced Valerio, who took one look at Daniela’s ashen face and immediately cornered their guest.
‘Marchesi.’ Fiero spoke calmly, placing a cigarette between his lips and lighting it. ‘Nice to see you again. Is there some sort of problem?’
‘I don’t know yet.’ Valerio looked the man up and down, his fists clenched at his sides. ‘Daniela?’
Valerio said her name softly, but with a stern undertone that had her snapping out of the daze she was in. ‘Everything is fine,’ she heard herself say. ‘Let him go.’
She was vaguely aware of Valerio ordering the security men to escort Fiero back to the party and keep a close eye on the man. He waited until they were alone on the deck, then took a few steps towards her, crossing his arms in that way he did when he was intensely annoyed by something.
It amazed her that she could still tell his mood just by observing his body language, considering how little they had seen one another in the past few years. She was lucky he couldn’t do the same with her, or he’d know just how absolutely terrified she felt. A shiver ran down her spine as she looked up at the thunderous expression on his face.
‘Disappearing alone without protection—have you lost your mind?’
‘We’re on a yacht.’ She rolled her eyes. ‘Also, I’m a grown woman, Valerio. Not a child for you to keep track of and scold.’
‘Even a child would know not to risk its own safety by wandering off alone into the darkness.’
He blocked her path when she tried to move away, placing one hand on her arm.
‘Why did you come out here, Dani? What could Angelus Fiero possibly have to say to you?’
Her mind kept replaying those words over and over on a loop.
‘If you value your life.’
‘If you value your life.’
She felt the heat of Valerio’s hand on her arm, sinking into her skin like a brand. She tried to draw on her anger at him for disappearing, for leaving her to run Velamar alone while she tried to hide her own grief. She shouldn’t feel this urge to fall into the safety of him when he had done nothing but give orders and trample on her work in all his six-foot-four and ridiculously handsome glory.
He had kept his newfound peace with Tristan Falco from her, and his apparent trip to Rio, and God only knew what else. He made her utterly furious.
She tried to remember all the reasons she might throw at him for why she had walked out...other than the fact that she’d needed to get away from him and the way he made her feel completely off balance. But now, with his simple touch burning against her arm, she was powerless even to control the erratic beating of her own stupid heart.
He frowned down at his hand on her arm, dropping it away as though he hadn’t realised he was touching her.
‘He was just expressing his condolences in person for our loss. He couldn’t come to the memorial service.’ Dani felt the lies fall easily from her lips, guilt pressing at her conscience as she turned and began walking back through the yacht towards the faint strains of the string quartet and the sound of laughter.
‘Stop running from me. I need to speak with you alone.’ He easily moved around her in the darkened study and blocked her way. ‘You arrived here tonight with that womanising fool on your arm without any thought other than angering me.’
‘Why would I care what you think, Valerio? You clearly don’t do the same for me.’
‘You don’t see a slight problem with bringing a date to your fiancé’s event?’
Dani froze in disbelief, the word ‘fiancé’ coming from his lips sending her blood pressure into overdrive. The man had lost his mind entirely.
‘Again this ridiculous promise you made? Valerio...I’ve already made it quite clear what I think about your proposal. It’s completely unnecessary.’
She took a step backwards, needing to put physical space between them. No one made her quite as angry as he did. No one else could manage to get under her skin and surpass her control.