Chapter 1

Luca dragged himself out of bed. Shit.

He looked back at Audrey’s naked body, barely covered by the sheet. She was still asleep.

He hadn’t meant to sleep with her. He’d come here to end things. Break it off clean. But the second he saw her, touched her—tasted her—he caved. As always. It was like trying to quit smoking. Not that he ever had. But she was addictive.

Maybe that’s why this thing between them had lasted eleven months. The longest he’d ever been with anyone.

He should’ve ended it months ago. Luca had known this was coming—known he had responsibilities he couldn’t outrun forever. He just hadn’t expected them to catch up in the form of his father’s heart attack.

Nick De Santis had pulled through. But it had been close. Too close.

And before the surgery, his father had made him promise. Made him swear that if he survived, Luca would finally fulfill the commitment he’d made sixteen years ago.

The promise that still made Luca’s blood boil.