Enemies Entwined

Valentina Rossi

At twenty-three, Valentina was fiercely independent, driven, and a self-proclaimed expert at ignoring nonsense. Growing up as the youngest in a lively Italian family meant she'd developed a sharp tongue and an even sharper sense of humor to hold her own. She loved her brother Alex, of course-most days-but the fact that his best friend seemed to have a permanent VIP pass to their house? That was something she'd never forgive.

Damian wasn't just annoying; he was infuriatingly charming. With his stupidly perfect jawline, dark, mischievous eyes, and the kind of grin that could convince anyone to make bad decisions, he had always gotten under her skin. He'd been doing it since she was fourteen, and nine years later, he was still as relentless as ever. .......................................................................................

Damian De Luca thrived on chaos.

At twenty-six, he had perfected the art of not taking life too seriously. As Alex's best friend and a regular fixture at the Rossi house, Damian had spent nearly a decade weaving himself into their family dynamic. He was confident, charming, and a little too proud of his ability to get under Valentina's skin.

She was smart, fiercely protective of the people she loved, and had a stubborn streak that rivaled his own. If he was honest with himself-which he rarely was-annoying Valentina wasn't just a pastime; it was his way of keeping her attention.