Free Stonebound: Shifters Forever Worlds (Skeleton Key) by Elle Thorne, Skeleton Key Page B

her face. She was so proud of her Mama.
    “Cristiano.” Mama said. “I expect you’d like to accompany us to the Tiero household?”
    “Indeed.
    “Federico. You’ll have your men take care of Bruno’s body, since he was felled by yours? And have two of them go to the Shifter Council to explain what has happened here so that my family has no problems with legalities. I’m sure it’s safe to say that my daughter has regained her father’s stolen fortune now, as Bruno’s widow.”
    “Let us go out the back,” Ana said. She had no will to see Bruno’s body.
    “I’ll have the vehicles brought around the back.” Federico indicated to one of the shifters with a wave.

Chapter 20
    “ I ’m staying .” Isabel planted her hands on her hips.
    “What do you mean you’re staying?” Mama indicated for one of the Tiero security team to push her closer to Isabel.
    They’d taken the drive, and now were in the driveway of the Tiero villa. Giovanni Tiero stood behind Isabel.
    Ana still found him as scary and as fierce as she had the first time she met him. How could Isabel want to stay here?
    “It’s not open to discussion. Please send my things.”
    Giovanni stepped forward. “Signora Valenti. I admired your husband. I hope you’d consider being our guest for dinner this evening. Perhaps spending a few days or relaxation. Federico told me what happened at your home. My security team will handle the cleanup and are visiting with the Council per your request. My home could be a good place to rest for a few days, until everything is settled.”
    Mama’s eyes narrowed. “Perhaps a short visit. Maybe a day or two. Then I have to get back to Rome and sell that godforsaken villa that held all of us prisoner. Or maybe I’ll have it razed and build something better on it.”

Chapter 21
    T he shifters had all dined together, then gone to their separate quarters, in different wings, and different floors.
    Ana’s room was next to Tino’s connected by a door.
    It wasn’t long after she’d gone to her room, changed into a nightgown, when there’d been a knock on their mutual door.
    She’d opened it to Tino’s smiling face.
    Why does it feel like I’ve always had him in my life? Like we’ve always been close.
    “Capriana,” he murmured.
    She fell into his arms as if she’d done it a million times before, resting her head on his muscular chest.
    “ Bellisima , you are my love.” His breath tickled the hair at her temples.
    “And you mine. And I’ve known it since I met you, though I’ve denied it to myself.”
    Hours later, after they’d talked, and talked, relishing the ability to speak to each other while gazing into one another’s eyes, Tino ran his fingertips over Ana’s flesh. Goosebumps rose from the trails of his touch. Would this ever change? Would there ever come a time when his touch didn’t affect her so?
    She prayed not as she studied his dark golden gaze, his lion flaring up to meet her tigress.
    She knew that Giovanni didn’t approve of her relationship with Tino.
    Gio—as he preferred to be called—was staunch in the old school beliefs that likes should mate with likes. Tigers with tigers, lions with lions and never, ever with humans.
    Though Gio didn’t approve, he never said anything. Probably because he didn’t want to upset Isabel. Ana knew her relationship with her sister would be strained because of this. They’d not be able to hang around as much
    Probably wouldn’t anyway, not if she’s going to stay out here and I’m going to Florence. She knew that Tino missed Florence. She’d go there, for a while.
    Ana would go where Tino went. She and her tigress were firm on that.
    “What are you thinking?” Tino locked eyes with Ana, taking her chin in his hand. Her heartbeat sped up, she felt the warmth coming off his body in waves. A heat that carried the scent of him, the sex of him, straight to her senses, her hormones, and her tigress.
    Her palms grew sweaty and tiny beads of