025

Luca.

Women were one of the most wonderful gifts on earth.

Not my sister, though. She wasn't among them.

I had barely stepped out of the shower, and the towel still slung low around my hips when my bedroom door swung open.

Had Caterina come for a second round of our little pillow fight? Or was it my...

Nope. It was Clarissa.

She stood in the doorway at first, those sharp eyes raking over me like she owned me, like she still had some chaim over my body.

Something close to disappointment coiled in my stomach.

Had the girls seen her?

"Luca," She practically purred, stepping forward before I could say a word, her heels clicking against the polished hardwood. "You just ran off before we could get into the fun stuff last night. That's not like you."

I didn't bother to respond. Just grabbed a shirt from the back of a chair and tugged it over my damp skin.

She wasn't worth it.

It was my fault Clarissa always acted like she had me wrapped around her finger, but it was honestly time I stopped pretending.

Maybe I felt some sort of attraction towards her at first, but it was long gone now.

All I felt when I saw her was mild irritation. And boredom.

Those manicured nails of hers skimmed down my arm, attempting to rekindle something that had since burned out.

I didn't flinch away, but I didn't acknowledge the touch either.

“Not in the mood,” I muttered, stepping past her toward the dresser.

She scoffed. “Not in the mood? Since when are you ever not in the mood for me?”

Since her.

The thought came without any warning, making me scowl.

Unfortunately for me, Clarissa noticed. Her eyes narrowed as she folded her arms.

"Is this about that girl? The one you dragged home to pay off some debt?"

I felt my whole body tense up. I already didn't like where this conversation was headed.

Clarissa smirked. “That’s it, isn’t it? You’re replacing me with some dumb bitch you picked up off the street?”

"Watch your mouth, Clarissa."

My patience was a brittle thing which snapped without warning.

She must have sensed that because she blinked like a deer caught in a headlight at the sudden shift in my tone. She could push and prod at me all she wanted, and I wouldn't dare, but the moment she crossed that line, I wouldn't be so lenient.

"You don't get to talk about her like that," I continued, taking a step closer to her. "And you don't get to act like you were ever going to be anything more than some casual fuck."

That got to her.

She stiffened, her lips pressing into a thin line. I had no idea if she wanted to cry or cuss me out.

And I wasn't bothered to find out.

"Get out."

Clarissa held my eyes for a long moment, searching for something that wasn't there until she saw the finality there.

She wasn't a stupid woman.

Whatever she had hoped to gain from coming here, she knew she was never going to get it.

So without another word, she spun on her heel and strode out of the room, slamming the door shut behind her.

What a day.

I let out a slow exhale, rubbing a hand over my jaw. Shouldn't I feel relieved that she was gone?

Why was all I felt at the moment exhaustion?

I took a seat at the edge of my bed, running a hand through my still wet hair.

Was this even about Clarissa?

No. It was about Caterina.

I wasn't a fool.

I had denied her the satisfaction of a quick fuck last night because I wanted her.

Our problem wasn't attraction. She was drawn to me, even if she refused to acknowledge it. The way she reacted to my touch, the way she came for it, and the way she lingered even when she could have walked away.

It was there, just beneath the surface.

So the little problem was that I didn't just want her body.

I wanted her.

She looked at me now with what could only be defiance, resentment, and a bit of lust.

I wanted more than that.

I needed her to look at me like I was something else entirely.

Affection.

Loyalty.

Desire.

She had two months left. Two months until her father either paid up or lost her forever. And was I really the kind of man who would gamble on the old man miraculously finding the money and giving me the answers I needed?

No.

I wasn't.

I wasn't going to let her go either. I had two months to seduce her and make her want to stay.

My lips curved into a slow smirk.

Challenge accepted...

A sharp knock at the door interrupted my less than holy thoughts.

If it was Clarissa again... it wasn't. It was one of my men, Felix, standing on the other side.

“It’s handled,” Felix said immediately, his tone crisp and professional. “All videos of last night have been erased from the internet. No traces left. And the waitress from the restaurant has been fired.”

Good enough.

I gave him a satisfied nod.

It wasn't like I was ever worried about it getting out, but I still preferred to tie up loose ends. It wouldn't do me well in my little seduction game to have any lingering reminders of that little mess.

"Good." I said simply.

Felix dipped his head in acknowledgement before taking his leave, leaving me with my thoughts once more.

My eyes flickered to the phone on the nightstand.

I picked it up, typed out a little message, and pressed send.

Her reply came instantly.

Had she been waiting for me.

Luca: I have a little deal for you, amorino.

Amorino: Stay away from me, and stop texting me.

My amorino zero.

Me two.

Let the little games begin.