020

Luca.

"Be ready in ten."

I let out a sharp exhale as I stared at the message on my phone.

What the hell was I doing?

I should have ignored her message after showing her what she did to my office, let her stew in whatever game she was playing... instead, I'd taken the bait.

Just as she had taken mine.

My eyes flickered to the video I had sent her... the one of me working out, sweat glistening on my skin, muscles flexing.

What had I been thinking when I hit send?

Nothing. That was what.

I should have had some sort of moral compass, but something about the idea of her seeing me like this had amused me.

Tempted me.

And now she was baiting me back.

I shook my head, tossing my phone onto my desk. I wouldn't go.

I shouldn't go.

Let her wait. Let her wonder.

She had given me the deal, but I was the one still in control here, not her.

But still…

My jaw clenched as my fingers twitched at my side. I could already hear the guys laughing at me if they ever found out what was happening.

If they knew how much space this woman had taken up in my head and the things I had done to keep her safe.

Not that Caterina knew it yet, and she probably would never do, but she never truly left my grasp.

My men were tailing her, watching her every move from outdoors while I tracked her from my phone.

Call it possessive all you want, but I called it practical.

She was a walking investment.

And she wasn't safe with Alessandro lurking around like some sort of creep. And the attention from the media wasn't helping.

They had painted her as some sort of whore and a prize, as a woman men fought for. A woman who was worth stealing.

I wouldn't let that happen.

Maybe I should just...

Those thoughts were interrupted by the sound of my office door slamming open.

I didn't bother looking up as Lorenzo strolled in, followed closely by his cousin, Marco.

My best friends.

"You look like shit," Lorenzo announced, dropping into the leather chair across from me.

I exhaled through my nose, already feeling the pang of a headache coming in. "And you look like someone I should have shot years ago."

Lorenzo only grinned. "Harsh." He placed a hand on his chest to show he was hurt or whatever before looking around. "I wasn't sure what kind of p**n show we would be made to see when we came, but for some weird reason, I can't find your little toy."

My fingers twitched again. "I let her go."

"You forgave her father? He won't pay the debt again?"

"I didn't. She was ruining the place with her little stunts."

Marco hadn't said anything at this point, he just kept glancing around. If he was anyone else, I would have been worried.

Lorenzo should be like him.

"Ahh. Of course." Lorenzo leaned back, studying me. "So, where is she?"

"How's that your business?"

He shrugged. "I'm genuinely curious. You have a habit of showing off any of your newly acquired toys, Luca. It makes no sense that she's nowhere to be seen."

There was no reason to reply to the fool.

"I heard she's a little fighter, so I was looking forward to watching you break her." This time, he was staring directly into my eyes. "Women like that... they put up a fight at first, but eventually, they shatter. It's always satisfying to watch."

Half of my vision became dark.

A slow, boiling heat crawled up my spine, settling in my chest. I wasn't sure which part of Lorenzo’s words had set ke off... the idea of Caterina breaking or the implication that he wanted to watch.

Marco, bless his heart, must have sensed the shift in the air because he spoke up. "Lorenzo, shut the fuck up."

"What?"

But Marco’s brown eyes was fixed on me. "Luca is two seconds away from putting a bullet between your eyes." He turned to look at Lorenzo. "And if he does, I would help him discard your body."

"Fuck off!"

But Lorenzo took his time to look at me now. Something like hesitation flickered in his eyes before some sort of understanding dawned.

"Oh, shit. You've fallen for Alessandro’s wife, haven't you?"

Wife?

"No, Luca. You've been friends with this guy since you were in diapers. His mother wouldn't appreciate him dying." I whispered to myself as I clenched and unclenched my hands at my sides.

One would think the idiot would drop the subject. He didn't, as his lips spread into an even wider grin.

"You've gone ahead to catch feelings for her."

The room fell silent.

I didn't recognize myself when I spoke. "Don't be ridiculous."

"Oh, but I think I’m right," Lorenzo mused. "I mean, look at you. Ready to kill me just because I suggested breaking her. You never hesitate to get your hands dirty, but suddenly, she’s off-limits?"

No.

My reaction was ridiculous. This whole thing was ridiculous.

"I don't care about Caterina." I said through clenched teeth. "She's with me until her father can pay his debts. It's just unfortunate that she has to marry a man like Alessandro."

Lorenzo raised his hands in mock surrender. "Whatever you say, boss."

Marco, on the other hand, still stared at me like he knew something I didn't.

I didn't like it.

But he changed the subject to something that was more productive, which delayed the inevitable.

It didn't take me more than a few seconds to reach for my phone the moment Lorenzo and Marco left.

Clarissa answered on the first ring. "Luca?"

"Come over."

There was a beat of silence before her voice softened. "I’ll be right there."

She arrived faster than I expected, buzzing her way in since she was one of the few people who knew where the estate was located. I saw the way her eyes raked over me when she saw me, the way she assumed I'd touch her right there in the open.

I didn't.

I took her inside the house, led her into one of the unused bedrooms, and let her talk about the things I had no interest in.

"Yes, run your hands all over me." I mentally urged her. "Remove all thoughts of..."

"Luca..." She giggled before leaning in, probably expecting me to pull her closer like always, whisper something low and filthy against her skin.

"Shut up and kiss me, Rissa."

She didn't need any more details than that, but for some reason, I barely felt the press of her lips against mine.

Because in the back of my mind, all I could think about was another mouth, another woman, and a smirk hidden behind a taunting message.

"Come pick me up if you miss me so much."