Chapter Twenty-Eight

I had on a knee-length, fitted black dress with cap sleeve and paired it with a pair of comfortable yet stylish red heeled sandals. I settled for gold jewelry, small hoop earrings and a thin necklace with a small pendant.

My hair fell down my back in loose waves. Light, natural-looking makeup with a touch of red lipstick to match the shoes.

Luca led me to a small, elegant restaurant tucked away on a quiet street.

"This place has been around for generations," he explained as we entered. "The head chef, Giovanni, is an old friend."

The interior was warm and inviting. The delicious aroma of Italian cuisine filling the air had my stomach rumbling. The place was empty except for a man sitting at the bar. There was something about his gaze that made me uneasy.

Luca must have noticed too because his grip on my waist tightened. I shivered at the motion as pictures of our kiss flashed through my head.

We had just settled into our seats when Matteo approached our table. He was a tall, imposing