"Mia, are you jealous of Vanessa again?" He dragged a hand through his dark hair. "How many times do I have to explain this to you? I see her as a sister. Nothing more."
"She's completely alone here." His composure returned, voice dropping into the measured cadence of a man accustomed to giving orders. "Separated from Don Argento, raising a child on her own. How can you not feel sympathy for her? She is my oldest friend. I cannot leave her suffering like that."
"If she's truly separated from Don Argento, then why is she pushing to merge the Argento Syndicate's territory with ours?" Mia stepped back, pulling free of the hand he had placed on her arm. She did not like the way he held onto her while his mind so clearly orbited another woman. "Does she not understand how much trouble a merger like that could bring down on this family?"
Xavier's jaw tightened. The warmth drained from his expression before he forced it back, reaching for her again with practiced gentleness.