Astrid's POV For a starter, I thought Halo Oscuro would be an old man who had a lot of age over head head but looking around the table, the leaders seated there all seemed to be in their thirties and forties. The oldest would be Halo who would most probably be in his mid or late forties. “Oohh, so that's her.” One of the females seated in Halo's right said to me with an excited look. “I'm sure she looks pretty beneath that mask. Why don't you give her to me, Santoro? I'll pay you big–” “Forget it, Juniper.” He said, sitting at the other head of the table without batting an eyelid. He gestured towards the empty seat on his right and I sat dokw comfortably, placing my legs on the seat like I usually did whenever I was hacking. “You bring Luca Santoro in at first, Halo and now you bring a hacker into this and to sit at the sane table as we all do? What are you thinking, Halo?” A tanned man with blonde hair grumbled, folding his arms across his chest as he threw me dirty glances. “I'
Astrid's POV The music boomed in the entire room, bringing the entire place alive. The Nexus was alive much more than usual tonight. The neon lights, the laughter, clinking of glass and the stench of smoke in the air combined to create the perfect illusion for safety but we all knew better. The safety here was just an illusion. I weaved through the crowd while balancing a tray on one hand and offering flirtatious smile to the men I passed. Although I was trying to keep a low profile here, my beauty and service was one thing that couldn't be escaped. The tight black dress hugged my curves in order to bring out my curves and keep the men's eyes on me in order to serve them well and I didn't mind it at all. This place was a cesspool of shady deals and dangerous people, but it was also my sanctuary. Some may say it was a strange place to hide considering the dangerous people and all, but for me, it was perfect. No one ever looked twice at the hostess who seemed to be focused on gettin
Astrid's POV I finally opened my eyes after how many hours I knew nothing of. My mind was hazy and couldn't think straight. The cold seeping through my skin, chilling me to the bone even though the room itself wasn't cold. I didn't know if it was an unconscious fear but it felt familiar to whenever I felt fear. I blinked, trying to get myself together, trying to get my hazy mind straight, and that was when it hit me hard. I was at the club when Luca Santoro came in and he drugged me. He drugged me. My heart hammered against my chest as I shot up but I felt sore all over, but that was the least of my worries now. Realizing I was no longer in Nexus club. I could be easily kidnapped in the club and they won't bat an eye as long as Luca Santoro did it. The room was unfamiliar, but it screamed wealth and power– two things I had no business being around. The walls were deep, muted gray with paintings that probably worth more than I make a year. The bed was massive and very comfortable.
Luca's POV My plan didn't go so well when I brought her here, because the last thing I was expecting was me to have sex with her, but I didn't care right now. When I first heard about her, I wondered why on earth someone like her would let go of the life of a hacker sought after by high ranking bosses. She could have just protected herself under one of them and she could have done whatever she wanted because she was dang valuable. But there was something, she strangely was able to get under my skin quickly even though I wanted to deny it. She was meant to be nothin but a tool, but now it was getting much more complicated with what we shared. Looking at her expression now that she had the pictures, I was positive she was going to join no matter what. For an hacker who was meant to be tough, she was really easy to read. “How did you get these?” She asked, her voice a bit shaky. “I have my ways.” I said in a matter of fact tone. “I'll help you look for them and bring them to you s
Luca’s POV As I walked back to my office, the weight of everything around me just pressed down on me. I've built my empire over the years from scratch and everyone was stunned by how quick and territorial it grew. More reason I couldn't let anyone, the Ivano or anyone else, tear it down. My office was a basiton of steel and glass, perched above the city. The floor to ceiling windows offered a splendid view, but today, the view was nothing but distracting. I had too much on my mind. I poured myself a glass of whiskey, the amber liquid swirling in the glass as I turned back to the room. I took a sip of the whiskey, letting the burn settle in my throat as I made plans in my head. Firstly, I needed more leverage to keep Astrid beside me. From the way she was able to escape from high ranked all this while, I could tell it will be much easier for her to do the same if she escapes. As I pondered on this, there was a knock on the door. “Come in,” I called, setting my glass down. The door
Astrid's POV The screen flickered before me as I did as he asked. I've been in here for over four days now and all I've been doing was breaking into the Ivano’s system which was even more complicated than I thought. Originally breaking through this would make me a lot of money to past my entire lifetime but I can't even ask that from him. Although I've been gotten some information, I wasn't ready to give them to him just yet and just kept postponing it. But, one thing was for sure, and that was the fact that Luca wasn't just trying to protect his territory, he was trying to expand it. And the last thing I wanted was to get involved in a mafia war but it wasn't like I had a choice already. It was either I stand with him or against him and that definitely means death which I am not ready to entertain. I still have a long life to live. Drama, drama, drama. Hacking might be my comfort place, but getting involved in other people's messes isn't one thing I was interested in but that's e
Luca's POV The warehouse was quiet, the silence only broke by the occasional dripping of water from a leaking pipe. The stench of blood and gunpowder lingered in the air, mixed with the cigarette smoke coming from me. This was the third place I was clearing today since I was in a very bad mood. “Fuck it…” I cursed, gritting my teeth. They've been unable to get nothing out of him and put of the information given by Astrid, we still needed his speaking in order to execute a plan. I moved from the spot I was in, walking over the dead bodies laying on the floor. I've been in this business long enough to know I had to get my hands dirty if I wanted victory and I can't deny that I love the taste of it. My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I pulled it out with my gaze locking on the caller's ID. It was encrypted and I knew I haven't come across it before. “Luca.” The voice on the other side was smooth, almost too smooth for my liking. “It's been a long time.”I didn't bother with pleasantri
Luca's POV I didn't know what was going on with me but she strangely looked so sweet and beautiful and it would be a lie if I said I wasn't interested in having her again right now. Even though the first time I ajd her was under the drug's influence, I couldn't forget her body still. One reason I hated being drunk was the fact that I was always honest whenever I'm drunk. More like my emotions and body was always honest unlike the real me. Without thinking, I walked over to her and she took a step back till her back was against the wall. I could see the frustration on her face as she did but I didn't care. I lifted her chin slightly making her look up at me. This woman was doing something to my body and I didn't know why it made me feel more strange than the way other ladies who approached me made me feel. Her sweet scent of honey and milk made me want to suck on her skin. “W-why are you here?” She stuttered, trying to keep a straight face but her rapid breathing and the redness o