ALINAI was so mad I could barely see straight. My head felt like it would explode, my teeth chattered from the force of my anger, and my hands were shaking at my sides.“What the fuck was that, Luca?” The words were heavy. I had never been so angry in my life. If I had, I didn't remember.Luca just stood there, watching me with a small smile on his face. He smirked. Like this was a joke.Like I was a joke.I stepped forward, stabbing a finger into his chest. “I had it covered. You didn’t need to swoop in and take over my meeting.”He had made me feel weak for a moment. I had been feeling so proud of myself for subduing Roberto, and he had come in at the last moment and made it about Luca, The Monster.Now all the men would remember, was how Luca had saved the day. I barely stopped myself from slapping his stupidly broad chest.His lips were shaking, his beautiful eyes dark with the laughter he didn't allow to slip past his lips. “Swoop in?”“Yes! Swoop in,” I snapped. “I told you to
ALINAI was shaking hard, my ass barely able to stay on the table.Luca pulled a chair closer to the table and sat. He pulled his pants down his legs, and his hard cock jumped free of his pants.He wrapped his hand around his cock, stroking himself as he watched me. His voice was rough when he spoke. “Get off the table and touch me.”I swallowed. My pulse pounded at my throat.I had never done this before. Not really. The only time I had ever seen a man naked had been years ago, in school, when I was drunk and reckless.The fumbling, the clumsy hands, the slippery kisses—it had turned me off completely.But this was different.Luca was different.Luca, who was looking at me like I was water and he was thirsty.Luca, who looked like he wanted to bite me as he fucked me into tomorrow.I dropped off the table and knelt in front of him. I reached out gently, my fingers brushing over the thickness of his hard cock.He was hot, smooth, pulsing under my fingers. My breath hitched. He was big
LUCAI barely made it out of the room.My breath was ragged, my eyes blurry with lust, my cock so hard it hurt. I had to force myself to walk, my legs stiff, every muscle in my body rejecting my decision to leave.I should have made love to her.I should have buried myself deep, should have ripped off those tight little pants and taken what she had been so ready to give.Instead, I walked away.Why?My fingers were shaking at my sides as I stepped into the hall. I couldn’t even fucking think straight.Her taste, the sound of her moans, the way she had looked up at me with her lips stretched around my cock; it was burned into my skull, running in my mind, driving me mad.Pietro was still standing outside the door. He straightened when he saw me.I barely looked at him as I grunted, “Give her a few minutes. Then bring her to the car.”He nodded, but I caught the look of unease on his face.It was enough to finish what little patience I had. I was so angry at myself that I needed someone
ALINAI blinked at him.What kind of stupid question was that?He was really asking if I thought he didn’t want me?I folded my arms across my chest. I thought about ignoring him, but I was too angry. “Are you serious?”Luca didn’t answer. He just stared at me like I was the one who wasn’t making sense.I laughed, though I didn’t think his situation was funny anymore. “Your actions say everything, Luca. They speak louder than words.”His eyes darkened. “Oh yeah?” His voice was tight. “And what do my actions say?”My pulse kicked up, but I kept my chin high. “That you don’t want me.”Luca threw his hands in the air, looking like he had just heard the most ridiculous thing ever. “That’s bullshit.”“Is it?” I leaned in, my hands pressing into my lap. “You kissed me. You touched me. You had me spread out on that table like a fucking buffet,” I pressed my palms to my face, suddenly embarrassed, “and then you walked away. So forgive me for thinking you don’t want me.”Luca cursed under his
LUCAI didn’t bother looking at my father. I was too tired to argue. Too tired for the tense silence pressing down on the room.Instead, I turned to Alina, still standing in the doorway.“Come and eat,” I said.She didn’t move.She stared at my father like she was seeing a ghost, her body stiff like she was preparing for another fight.I sighed, pushed my chair back, and stood. I walked over, took her hand, and pulled her toward the table. Her fingers were cold in mine, and for once, she let me lead her without a word.That was strange.I almost wanted to laugh. She had fought me over everything so far. Argued, pushed, tested me at every turn. And now, when I expected resistance, she was quiet?Maybe she was as tired as I was.I pulled out a chair for her. She sat, lowering her eyes to the table.My father was still watching us, his expression tight with anger. I ignored him and turned to Sofia instead. “Eat,” I said, nodding at the food on her plate.She nodded, then picked up her fo
ALINAThe car ride was quiet.I sat in the passenger seat, staring out the window at the places we passed. I hadn’t been back to my father’s house since the wedding.I hadn’t planned to return in a while, but now, here I was, heading straight there. My mother had refused to clean out my father’s study.Months after his death and she still didn't want to. Though my parents' marriage had been arranged, she had come to like him intensely.I wondered vaguely if that would ever happen for Luca and me.Valentina broke the silence. “So? How did the meeting go?”I tipped my head against the seat. “Roberto made a scene as usual. He pulled a gun on me.”Valentina stared at me, shocked. “You’re serious?”“Yeah.”A beat of silence. Then, “So what happened?”I didn’t look at her. “Luca came in and ruined everything. I had it under control. I even told him not to come, but of course, he didn't listen.”Valentina snorted. “By ruining everything, I guess you mean he saved your life?”I frowned at her
ALINAI stared at the diary.It was black, square, and leather. Worn, like it had been touched too many times.My fingers hovered over it.What if it was personal? What if it had things I wasn’t supposed to see?I swallowed, running my thumb along the spine. It felt strange, finding something of my father’s after all this time. Like he had left a part of himself behind, just waiting for me to discover it.Part of me wanted to open it right there. The other part felt protective of it, like it wasn’t even mine to touch.I let out a slow breath and pushed the drawer back in, hiding it. Then, after a second, I pulled it open again, just to see if I had worked the latch correctly.The drawer slid out smoothly.I closed it once more, pressing it firmly shut. I’d go through it later. When I was alone.Even as I cleared the rest of the desk, moving papers and sorting through old receipts, my mind stayed on the diary.What was inside?What had my father been writing about?I was still thinking
LUCAI sat in my office, fingers around the heavy glass of my tumbler. The whiskey burned down my throat, but it didn’t do much to calm me.The latest shipment of guns was late. I hated delays.These weren’t just any guns. The businesses who ordered from me paid top price because they knew I only dealt with the best.No second-rate stock, no excuses, and definitely no waiting. If I didn’t deliver on time, they’d start looking elsewhere.And that wasn’t going to happen.Marco sat across from me, relaxed in a way that made my patience even thinner."Anything yet?"He shook his head. "Still nothing."I held the glass tighter, then deliberately loosened my fingers. I didn’t want to break the glass. It had been a birthday gift from Sofia. "I want updates every five minutes. If that shipment isn’t here soon, I’ll be the one handling it myself."Marco didn’t argue. He just nodded, watching as I downed the rest of my drink and set the empty glass on the desk with a dull thud.I leaned back in
ALINAI hated this.I hated that we had to do it. I hated that we couldn’t tell her the plan. I hated that I had to be the one to sit in front of Valerie and ask her if she was willing to walk back into hell.But there was no other way. Luca and I had come up with a plan while driving back home. And we knew it would work. We hoped it would.She sat across from me, her hands fisted on the armrests of the chair like she was preparing for an impact. She looked like she had that moment before Riot slapped her outside the club.I didn’t waste time. It was better to quickly rip the band aid off. “What do you think about getting your son back if you go back home?”Her lips clenched painfully as she bit it. “I want him back.” Her voice was shaking with fear. “But if I go back there, Riot will kill me.”I swallowed. “You don’t know that for sure.”She laughed dryly, looking away. “Yes, I do.”Luca stood against the wall, silent. Watching. He looked like an angel of war. I liked having him beh
LUCAI parked outside and waited for Alina.I was picking her up after her meeting. The door opened but it was Alberto who came outside. He walked past me toward his car, his eyes burning with so much hatred, it was almost laughable. If looks could kill, I’d be dead a thousand times over and he wouldn't have been my killer either. I didn’t react. Didn’t even spare him a second look as I pulled open the passenger door just as Alina stepped outside.She pulled her coat tighter, her hair shifting against her shoulders as the wind picked up. She looked tired and majestic at the same time. When I stepped into the car, the driver pulled out, my security detail in front and behind us. After being shot at, I was more careful with security. I watched Alina's face. She looked calm, but I could tell she was worried. “How did the meeting go? Any problems?” She shrugged. “The meeting went fine enough.” Then, after a second, she added, “Alberto threatened to kill you.”I laughed quietly. Why
ALINAI stopped outside the door, my pulse steady, my thoughts sharp. I was angry, but I kept my cool.I couldn't afford to let emotions rule me. Not now.Beside me, Pietro stood still like a statue, watching the entrance with narrowed eyes.“Do they have any idea what I’m about to tell them?” I asked, keeping my voice low so the men gathered inside the safe house wouldn't hear me. I had called a meeting like Luca had advised me. I wanted my men to be prepared and ready in case the Alvarados decided to strike.Pietro shook his head “I don’t think so. Which is why we need to get ahead of it and control it. We want them to support us.” I nodded. That was the plan. That had always been the plan; to control the story before anyone else could twist it against me.I started walking again and Lorenzo followed behind me. I turned to him, frowning. Was he trying to follow me into a personal meeting with my men? “Stay out here.”He didn’t move. Didn’t speak. Just shook his head no. I clench
LUCAI handed Maya to Valerie and stood. So both of her children were not Riot's? That made more sense. Now I understood why she was so worried.“Maya isn't his daughter too?” I asked, leaning forward with my hands on the table. “No, I already had them before I married Riot. When I couldn't give him a child after a year, he started hating me.” Valerie cried, cleaning her face. If Valerie's son was not Riot's child, then he was very unsafe. They could kill him.We had to find him, and we had to save him.Alina followed me to the door. Immediately we stepped outside, she stopped and her eyes filled with bright tears. “What have I done, Luca? That kid will die, won't he?” I stepped towards her, shaking my head. “He won't die. We won't let him. Go in for work. Call a meeting with your men, and ask them to be careful, we're not sure yet how they will react, but we need to be ready.” Alina gulped and nodded, turned and walked inside. Marco was already standing beside my car. A minute
ALINAI woke up suddenly, my heart pounding. The day had already begun, because light was pouring in through my curtains.I groaned and sat up. I never woke up this late. I must have been very tired. Little wonder why Luca had forced me to sleep.I threw off the covers, got out of bed, and quickly showered and dressed. Luca hadn’t woken me up. That meant something was wrong or he was just being a pain in the ass by trying to protect me.Either way, I didn’t like it.When I opened the door, I nearly ran into a wall of muscle.I blinked. Took a step back.The man standing outside my door was huge. He was built like a damn mountain. He had broad shoulders, thick arms, and an expression that looked like he hadn't smiled in years.An eye patch covered his left eye, making him look even more intimidating.I stared at him. Why was he standing outside my door? “Who the hell are you?”He smiled, but on his face, it looked more like a grimace. “Lorenzo. Your new bodyguard.”I laughed. “What?”
LUCAI lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.Sleep wouldn’t come. My body was heavy, exhausted, but my mind wouldn’t shut off.Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Riot’s face.I heard the bastard’s voice.I thought about Valerie, about the boy, about how fast things were spiraling.I closed my eyes, forced my shoulders to relax, and tried to rest for an hour.I knew the Alvarado Cartel wouldn't kill the boy. They just couldn't.But I couldn't relax. I sat up and rubbed a hand down my face.Someone knocked on my door.I jumped out of bed like I had been waiting for that distraction.When I opened the door, Pietro and Leonard stood there. One look at their faces, and I knew I was in for a long night. Neither of them looked happy.“They’re here,” Pietro said.I nodded and turned back inside. I grabbed a shirt from the chair, pulled it on without buttoning it, and ran a hand through my hair.“Wait in my office,” I muttered as I stepped past them.They left in one direction, but I turned the
ALINALuca didn’t wait for me to follow, he just walked, his steps long and purposeful, expecting me to keep up. Marco was right beside him, and I trailed stiffly behind, my mind still trying to catch up with everything that had happened.Just before we stepped out of sight, Luca looked back at Sofia. “Go up and sleep, after the housekeeper has taken Valerie and Maya to their room.”Sofia nodded, her face still tense. I had no idea if she’d actually listen, but I didn’t have the energy to say anything else.I was suddenly tired. Maybe it was the thought of the boy dying because I had interfered where I shouldn't have. I pushed the tiredness away. I would have to live with the guilt forever if the boy died because of me. We entered Luca’s office, and he locked the door behind us. The moment he sat behind his desk, I asked, “Do you think they’d really kill the boy?”Luca exhaled, rubbing a hand down his face. “No.” He sounded sure. “The boy is still Riot’s son.”That should have ma
LUCA“Find my phone,” I yelled over the gunfire.Alina reached for it, her hands moving fast as I speeded out of the parking lot. The sound of bullets slamming against the armored windows was deafening, like hail against glass, but heavier, more violent.I clenched my jaw and pushed the gas pedal down harder. We needed to get the hell out of here before they found a way to stop us.Alina shoved the phone into my hand. I was about to dial when she grabbed it back.“I’ll call Sofia,” she said. “You focus on driving.”I didn’t argue. I needed both hands on the wheel.She pressed the phone to her ear. She tapped her finger impatiently against her seat until Sofia picked up. “Sofia, get one of the men to open the gates right now. We’re coming home.”Sofia’s voice was sleepy on the other end, but she answered immediately. “Okay.”Alina ended the call, sliding the phone back into its hold. The bullets kept coming, but I could tell we were pulling ahead. Their shots were landing less freque
ALINA I called the number again.Nothing.I stared at the screen, heart pounding.It rang five times, then cut off.I swallowed, hit redial, prayed someone would pick up. The man who had called sounded dangerous, the kind of man who wouldn't care about hurting the child if he could get what he wanted.Was that Riot's elder brother? Did it make a difference who it was?Still no answer.“What are you planning to do?” Luca asked when I almost ran over to the car.I barely looked up. I was glad he was beside me, with his intensity, but the man had asked me to come alone. “I’m going to get the boy.”Luca snapped. “Alone?”“Yes.”Luca stopped and the suddeness of the action made me stop too. “It’s a trap.”I nodded. I knew exactly what it was. “I know.”Luca looked exasperated. His eyes flashed at me. “And you’re still going?”My grip on my phone tightened. “Do you have a better idea?”Luca nodded, looking all sensible, like he needed me to be sensible too. How could I be sensible when t