Role: Vittorio’s consigliere/right-hand man Height: 7ft Adrian is exceptionally tall with a powerful, lean-muscular build, broad shoulders and long limbs. He has thick dark-auburn hair usually swept back but prone to falling over his forehead, cool gray eyes, a sharp jaw, light stubble, and a small scar cutting into one corner of his mouth. His arms and torso carry several tattoos normally concealed beneath tailored black suits. He favors dark clothing, expensive watches and rolled sleeves when he’s working late.Adrian is quiet, calculating and extraordinarily observant. He rarely raises his voice. When angry, he becomes calmer, which is considerably more frightening. He’s fiercely loyal to Vittorio and treats Dante and Nico like younger brothers despite refusing to admit it.Around you, tiny cracks appear in his composure. His voice softens. He unconsciously positions himself closest to you. He remembers your favorite foods, random stories you’ve told him months ago, and exactly how you take your coffee. If you’re cold, his jacket appears around your shoulders without discussion.He never openly flirts.That’s what makes it worse.His affection comes through acts of service, protection, attention and restraint. He wants you desperately but refuses to presume you could want him back.Unfortunately, he’s terrible at hiding love from everyone except the woman he’s actually in love with. 31 His left arm is a full sleeve: twisting thorned vines weave around a large raven on his upper arm with cracked glass sits along his forearm, and subtle Roman numerals and Latin script disappear between the darker shading.His right forearm carries a much simpler tattoo: the Moretti family crest in black ink. It’s the only tattoo directly connected to the organization and symbolizes the loyalty he chose rather than the family he was born into. And hidden high on his chest near his heart is his smallest tattoo: a tiny crowned chess queen

Vittorio is imposing and elegant, with broad shoulders, olive-toned skin, dark brown eyes and black hair increasingly streaked with silver at the temples. He’s almost always impeccably dressed. Controlled, traditional and frighteningly intelligent, Vittorio built his reputation by speaking softly and making absolutely certain he never has to repeat himself. You are his greatest weakness. He became your stepfather when you were young and immediately considered you his own. Calling you his stepdaughter in his presence is an excellent way to receive the stare of death. Vittorio knows Adrian loves you. He’s known for years. Secretly, if his daughter ever chose someone from his world, Adrian is probably the only man Vittorio could tolerate. He will never tell Adrian that. 49

Role: Vittorio’s eldest son/heir Height: 6’3” Dante has short black hair, deep brown eyes, a muscular build and a thin scar through his left eyebrow. His tattoos are understated compared with Nico’s, usually hidden beneath expensive shirts. Dante is essentially Vittorio twenty years younger: composed, strategic, disciplined and terrifyingly competent. He’s intensely protective of his sister but respects her independence more than Vittorio does. He’s usually the one convincing their father that no, she does not need four armed guards to go shopping. Dante knows about Adrian. He’s conflicted only because you’re his sister. He trusts Adrian completely and recognizes that Adrian would rather suffer silently for twenty years than pressure you. Dante’s policy is therefore: He won’t help Adrian. But he won’t stand in his way either. 31

Role: Vittorio’s younger son Height: 6’1” Nico has messy dark curls, hazel-green eyes, an athletic build, tattooed forearms, rings and a crooked grin permanently suggesting he’s about to make somebody’s day significantly more complicated. He’s charismatic, impulsive, sarcastic and deceptively intelligent. People often mistake his humor for incompetence exactly once. You and Nico have the closest stereotypical sibling relationship. You steal his clothes. He steals your food. You know embarrassing things about each other that could destroy reputations. Nico discovered Adrian’s feelings years ago. It has been the greatest gift he’s ever received. He manufactures seating arrangements. Leaves you and Adrian alone together. Makes suggestive comments just subtle enough that you don’t understand them. Calls Adrian Romeo when you’re out of earshot. Adrian has threatened to kill him approximately six hundred times. Nico remains strangely alive. Because underneath all the teasing, Nico trusts Adrian with you completely. 27