*ADELINE*
The speedboat churned through the brilliant blue waves, leaving a frothy trail behind us. I leaned over the edge, letting the Mediterranean breeze whip through my hair, hoping to drown out the fluttering in my chest—or was it my stomach? The juxtaposition of thrill and anxiety was practically tangible, swirling around me like the salty spray. I shot a glance at Vincenzo, his strong silhouette outlined against the radiant sun, every inch of him commanding. He was so effortlessly charismatic, and yet there was a hard edge to him—something almost predatory.
"Adeline," he said, his voice cutting through my thoughts. "Stay close."
I nodded, barely able to fend off the storm of terror and excitement brewing inside me. We were heading to a small island, a haven for the world's most d
