She was beautiful. More than beautiful. Her body was lush and inviting, just the way she was. “You give all of us hope. Did you know that? Do you have any idea how important you are to my brothers and sister? Not because you’re going to give me babies, but because you represent something beautiful and amazing. None of us believed we’d ever have the chance to love someone. Or that we’d be loved.”

Francesca stretched out beside him, her body turned toward his, one arm slung around his waist, her head on his shoulder, one leg thrown over his thighs. She did that a lot, he realized. Turned her body toward him. She never protested when he locked her to his side, or at night when he draped himself all over her. She just snuggled closer to him.

“You need to explain all this to me, Stefano,” she urged. Her fingers moved over his chest, tracing his heavy muscles. “I need to know. I want to understand.”

He shifted just enough that he could wrap an arm around her. The lights were off, but he could see her easily through the bank of uncovered windows that were one wall of his room. Up so many floors, there was no one to see in, yet he could look down on the city with all the lights. He loved his city. He loved his neighborhood. More than anything he loved his family.

“I’ve told you some of it. We go back hundreds of years. The Ferraro family always had riders born into it. Men and women capable of connecting with shadows and entering them, like a tube, an expressway. When we’re inside the shadow, no one can see us. In the old days, our ancestors took on the task of protecting family and friends and then, eventually others in our neighborhood.”

She nodded and turned her head just slightly to press a kiss into his chest. He’d told her this before, but he needed to start somewhere comfortable. She was patient with him, but then he knew she would be—just like she would be patient with their children.

“When the Ferraros refused to join the Saldi family or reveal to them just how they were able to protect so many, the head of the Saldi family issued orders to wipe them out. Every man, woman and child. Only the riders escaped. A few cousins off on a holiday. Those remaining alive went into hiding. Because the shadow riders were able to get away, the family began to rebuild in secret.”

Her finger traced his ribs. “I know where you get your tenacity.”

He captured her hands and brought her fingertips to his mouth, his teeth scraping seductively along the pads. “They spent years building an empire. Branches of riders were established in major cities throughout the world. Every rider had to be familiar with languages and geography so they’re sent to each city to train while teens. The other family members began legitimate businesses. Solid ones that would bring prosperity to the family. Banks, hotels, casinos, nightclubs. Each business was carefully built up before another was added.”

“All of them are capable of handling any money a shadow rider would get for his services that aren’t so legit,” she murmured. “Like the rescue of a seventeen-year-old girl.”

“No money for that job. Some jobs are bartered for favors. Others small things. Taking on work that involves executing someone”—he deliberately used the expression to see her reaction—“requires a great deal of money unless, as in the case of a brutalized child, the petitioner can’t afford it, isn’t a criminal and the need is justified.”

“That’s why you have such a process. The greeters, and then the investigators.”

“Yes.” He bit down again on her finger, wanting to kiss her, warmth spreading through him because she didn’t even flinch when he used the word executing. “We have to be certain before we take a job. There can be no mistakes. Both sides are investigated, the petitioner as well as the target and the incident itself. We protect the family at all costs. We make certain our own riders don’t take down anyone who can draw attention to us in our own city. We don’t do our own personal work. Nothing close to us. We use the paparazzi for alibis. Because we play so publicly, few people ever consider that we would do anything that they can’t see.”

“And you’re careful.” She made it a statement.

“And we’re careful,” he confirmed. He was silent a moment before continuing, his fingers delving into the silk of her hair. “It’s difficult to find others outside the family with the ability to ride the shadows. There just aren’t that many. Men have a little longer to find someone they truly want than a woman, because in the end, we serve the family and that means producing riders. Riders keep us safe. If the Saldis or anyone else ever try to wipe us out again, retaliation would be swift and brutal. They know that. They don’t know how we do it, but they know we can get to them.”