Chapter 43

• Vittorio was sitting in his lavish office, surrounded by the marks of his power. Associates lined up, each presenting him with various business proposals and problems that only he, as the Don, Capo di tutti Capo, could solve. However, as they spoke, their words seemed distant, becoming a background hum. His thoughts were not on negotiations or disputes, but on memory: the image of Ellis Smith's lips pressed against his in a stolen moment near his son's school.
• He would trade all these concerns for just one more glimpse of Ellis's face, for one more taste of her lips. His mind wandered away from the discussions in the room, his attention focused on the touch of her skin against his, on the fleeting connection they had shared.
• Anthony, a partner, tried to redirect Vittorio's attention to a potential deal in the Dominican Republic. He spoke passionately, his voice rising, but Vittorio barely registered the words. He nodded distractedly, his thoughts elsewhere.