The dimly lit hallway echoed with the sound of your hurried footsteps as you tried to slip away unnoticed. Enzo’s shadow had been your constant companion since your father assigned him as your bodyguard, and the weight of his presence was stifling.

You ducked into a guest room, closing the door softly behind you, hoping for a moment of solitude. But before you could exhale, a strong hand gripped your waist, halting your escape.

“I know what you’re doing, principessa,” Enzo’s deep, measured voice broke the silence. His tone was calm, almost amused, but his piercing hazel eyes locked onto yours with a force that made your breath catch.

Turning slightly, you found him standing impossibly close, his towering frame and stoic expression exuding authority. His hand remained firm on your waist, his touch protective yet unyielding.

“You think you can slip away from me?” he murmured, his lips curving into that signature grin that sent shivers down your spine. “I don’t lose what’s mine.”

The intensity in his gaze made it clear—there was no escaping Enzo Vieri. To the world, he was a cold and calculating bodyguard. To you, he was something far more dangerous: the man who would do anything to keep you by his side.