Knock, knock.

  "Gracey, you have a visitor," Ray called out and knocked on her door again.

  "Mmm?" Grace cringed as she opened her eyes. She went to roll out of bed, but a strong arm was wrapped around her midsection from behind.

  Crap.

  "Zain," Grace whispered as she tapped on his hand on her. "Zain, wake up."

  "Mmm..."

  "Gracey? You're normally up before this to go out on your run; are you feeling okay?" Ray asked.

  "I'm fine!" Grace yelped as Zain snuggled up to her. "Just... indisposed at the moment. Give me a few minutes."

  "Are you sure you're okay?"

  "Certain." Grace nudged Zain. "Wake up! My grandpa is at my door," Grace hissed.

  I know we're engaged, but I still don't want him seeing us. Grace's mind went blank as she realized she was still naked.

  "Zain, wake up, now," she commanded him.

  "What's up?" he mumbled and kissed her on the cheek. "Need to go for your run?"

  "A bit late for that. But my grandpa is at the door."

  Zain's eyes shot open, and he released her. "Crap. Why didn't you wake me earlier?"

  Grace's expression went flat. "You're the one who refused to wake up!"

  "Then slap me awake or something; I can take it."

  Grace raised an eyebrow. "Am I getting in a bit over my head with you?"

  "We don't have time for this." Zain rushed to get out of bed and find his clothes wherever she tossed them before hiding in the bathroom.

  Instead of doing the same, Grace was watching him scurry around as she held back a laugh. Turns into such a teenage boy when it comes to grandpa.

  "Gracey?" Ray sighed. "I'm certain you want to see your guests, but if you'd rather sleep your day away with Zain, I guess I'll go tell them that."

  With Zain...? He knows?! Grace scrambled out of bed to throw some clothes on and stood frozen in front of her door.

  "I know you're standing right there. Do I need to get the key and open it, or are you going to face me?"

  Grace swallowed hard. Why am I freaking out?! I didn't do anything wrong. We were two consenting adults who are engaged! Then why do I feel like I'm in trouble?

  Her hand shaking, she opened the door. "Grandpa..."

  "I'm not an idiot, and you two aren't children; I know what's going on. Should I expect some great grandchildren soon?" Ray asked.

  "Grandpa!" Her jaw hung open.

  "What? I know what you two were up to, even if Zain tries to hide himself in your bathroom. It's a bit hit-n-miss on trying to get him up in the morning, but don't let him ruin your morning routine."

  Grace covered her reddening face with her hands. "Oh my gosh, please stop," her words were muffled by her hands.

  Ray laughed and patted her head. "I will expect them someday, but when you're ready. Zain, stop hiding in the bathroom."

  A moment later, the door cracked open, and Zain peeked out. "Am I in trouble?"

  "For sleeping with your fiancée? No... I expected this eventually. I am the one who set you two up. I'd rather not really know about it, though. Maybe I should only send Mary to get you." Ray sighed. "This is a bit much for me. Anyway, we've been keeping your guests waiting."

  Who could I have as a guest?

  Grace followed Ray down the hall. She looked over the railing at the entrance and froze. He was facing the other way, but she'd recognize him anywhere.

  "What's up?" Zain peeked overtop of her.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  Without a word, Grace bolted down the stairs past Ray and jumped down half of them.

  "Roger!" Grace called out as she lunged at him. He turned around just in time to catch her.

  Zain stared at her from above with his jaw hanging open. "How long until I'm greeted so emphatically?"

  "Vanish for a few days and it might happen." Ray nudged him with his elbow.

  "If I did that, something tells me Grace would have my hide."

  Ray raised an eyebrow. He'd never seen Zain like that with anyone other than him. "She's tamed you so fast; maybe she will make a great leader."

  "As much as I want to argue with you, I concur."

  "Ah-ha..." Roger cringed as he hugged her. "I know I'm up and about, but I haven't healed yet." He set her down, and she frowned up at him, her lip quivering. "Grace... Please don't give me that look."

  "You left without saying anything. And now you show up..." She took a step away from him to look at the suit he was wearing. "Dressed up, and with Vincent. Hello, Vincent."

  "Hello, cara mia." Vincent winked at her.

  "Why are you two showing up together? And why did you vanish?" Grace smacked Roger in the arm.

  "Ow! Don't hit injured people!" Roger stepped away from her.

  "Don't leave your best friend after making it sound like you never wanted to see me again!" she huffed and crossed her arms. "Do you know how sad I was?"

  "Considering how sad he was, I'd say he has a bit of an idea," Vincent spoke up when Roger stayed silent. "He missed you too, cara mia. So much so that he accepted my offer, instead of running away with his tail between his legs to some far-off city we've never heard of."

  "Offer? What offer?" she asked Roger, but he was still mentally arguing with himself about how to proceed.

  "Seeing as I'm a busy man, and I want a good, beneficial friendship with the Bertolottiss, I needed someone as a go-between for our two families. When I heard about the Mr. Kuros here being a little lost pup." Vincent gripped Roger's shoulder. "I decided to take him in. It took a bit of convincing, but someone who's already your best friend seemed like the perfect person to communicate with you, the future leader."

  "So... he's a part of the Moretti family now?"

  "Yes; our newest member. Some of the others questioned taking him in, but he's worked with me to prove himself already. He found and helped me capture the new leader of the Marini family that was after you."

  Grace's jaw dropped. "The same Marini family that sent someone to kill me recently?"

  "One and the same."

  "Where are they now? What about their family? I don't imagine they like their leader being captured. On that note, why were they after me before I even got here?"

  "They've been worried about the Bertolottiss expanding, and somehow, they found out about you. They figured if they had you, they could use you against Ray. Since they failed in capturing you, they wanted to kill you to put the Bertolottiss into turmoil, opening up some of your territory for their taking. They wanted to expand, not that they actually have the chops for it."

  "So, Miss Bertolottis, what do you want to do?" Roger finally spoke up.

  Grace scrunched up her face at Roger. "It doesn't sound right coming from you. If you're supposed to be the link between the families, I think we can be on more familiar terms."

  "Don't get too familiar, though," Zain yelled from behind.

  "Didn't sound right saying it either." Roger sighed. "It's weird to call you anything other than Grace or partner."

  "Stick with those; I prefer them. Okay..." Grace sighed as she tried to gather her thoughts. "You left me a letter—"

  "I actually wrote that before I accepted Vincent's offer."

  "But everything you said and wrote, plus vanishing without saying goodbye, are all clear indications that you didn't want to see me again. So how did Vincent convince you?"

  Roger rubbed his face and glanced at Vincent, who cocked an eyebrow. "He made me worry about you with the Marini family, and he painted a picture of both our lives without each other, and it didn't look good. And he pointed out that running away from you won't help me forget you. Not that I ever truly thought I could. He also explained how I can't protect you from all these new threats if I'm not around you."

  "Then why not join the Bertolottiss?"

  Zain clenched his fists and took deep breaths as he tried to calm himself. Ray gripped his shoulder and tugged him back to make sure he didn't do anything he'd regret.

  Roger glanced at Zain. "Because that's a little too close, and therefore, too painful. Vincent is giving me an in between point; I won't be beside you all the time, but I'll be near, and we have a reason to see each other and work together."

  "We're friends, Roger; that's the only reason we need."

  "Tell that to your future husband. I don't think he'd like us meeting up for personal reasons all the time, and I can't blame him; I'd be jealous, too."

  "So would I." Vincent winked at her again and could feel the rage instantly emanating from Zain.

  "He convinced you to stay in my life, even though you can't expect more?" Grace hated asking in front of the others, but she wasn't sure when she'd have the chance. For all she knew, he'd try to vanish on her again.

  "Grace..." Roger sighed, his shoulders sagging. "He made a lot of good points, and he gave me a new place to start over." Roger's cheek twitched up on one side.

  "There's more!" Grace pointed at his face and leaned in close. "Fess up."

  "He mentioned that you're not married yet, and many marriages end in divorce," Roger whispered to make sure Zain couldn't hear. "For now, my arms will stay open if you choose to run from him."

  "But I l—"

  "Don't... It's what I'm holding onto for now. However little hope that may be. Just let me have this, Grace, or would you rather I did vanish?"

  "Of course not." Grace sighed and gave him a little push. "I never wanted you out of my life, I just..."

  "Didn't feel the same way I do?"

  "And she never will." Zain hugged her from behind and rested his chin on her shoulder. "I know you lot are waiting for us to break up, but even outside of the rushed announcement, she agreed to marry me." Zain lifted up her left hand and kissed the engagement ring. "She's mine for life, boys."

  "We'll see about that." Roger glared at him.

  "Boys, boys, let's not fight over her." Vincent stepped between them. "We have more important business right now. What do you want to do about the Marini family?"

  "I'm sure my grandpa would like to have a chat with the leader..." Grace looked over at him and he smiled, fixing his lapels. "That's a definite yes. Now, about the rest of them... you said they've been a nuisance to our families, right?"

  "Indeed; a thorn in both our sides."

  "How about we start this alliance with a show of power?"

  Vincent's eyes narrowed as he smiled. "I like how you think."