~ANASTASIA~
Darkness. My head throbs, and I can hear the faint sounds of chaos outside. I feel hands tightening around my arms, dragging me along the cold floor. My vision is blurry as I blink, trying to focus. Fear grips my chest as the memories flood back—the elevator, Alessio, the hands that covered by mouth.
Where… where am I?
"We need to get her out quietly." a gruff voice mutters. The man holding me pulls me up and shoves me against the wall. His sneer sends chills down my spine, but my senses slowly return, the dizziness subsiding as adrenaline floods my body. I spot another man standing close.
My eyes scan the dim room—tiles cracked, mirrors shattered. And suddenly, I remember the restroom I was trying to enter before everything went dark. They must have dragged me inside.
"Let's tie her up. We'll take her out back once we've cleared the building."
"How about you have a little chat with me before you take her?" A voice, cold and familiar, comes from the shadows.
The man gripping my arm stiffens, his hand loosening as his eyes widen. From the corner, Luca steps forward, his face as calm and unreadable as ever. My heart skips, and for a second, I wonder if I'm hallucinating.
"Luca…" I whisper, my voice hoarse.
His eyes meet mine for the briefest moment, but there's no warmth. It's as if he's simply a spectator in this nightmare. The man beside me immediately steps back, his hand shifting to the gun tucked at his side, but Luca is faster.
Without hesitation, Luca pulls out his gun, the silencer attached gleaming under the dim light. A single shot—swift and clean—echoes in the confined space, and the men fall to the floor. Dead.
I gasp, frozen in place as Luca approaches, his movements deliberate and composed. He kneels beside the body, searching the man's pockets as if this was just another day in his twisted world.
"You... you killed them," I stammer, my legs trembling beneath me.
He stands, brushing dust off his sleeves as he looks at me, finally acknowledging my presence. "Would you prefer they had taken you?"
His tone is sharp, indifferent. The Luca I remembered from that one reckless night is gone—this man is colder, calculating.
I swallow hard, my mind reeling. "Why... why are you here?"
Luca steps closer, his gaze never leaving mine. "I had business here."
I try to move, but my body feels locked in place, the fear of everything happening overwhelming my senses. "But— there's so much blood." My stomach churns at the sight before me.
"I shot them in the chest, red haired. Of course, there would be so much blood." His voice cuts through my protest, smooth and commanding. "Relax, they laid their filthy hands on you. They deserved to die."
I feel the tension rising between us, the pull I had tried to forget ever since that night. But it's not the time, and I know it. I shake my head, focusing on the urgency of the situation. "Alessio is alone at the other side. I need to go to him now."
Luca's lips twitch into a faint smile. "And what can you do to help, red haired? Alessio is Dante's most skilled soldier, he can handle himself. For now, you will come with me."
But just as he moves to lead us out of the restroom, the door flies open, revealing another one of Vincenzo's men, gun raised. My breath catches in my throat, but Luca doesn't flinch. He moves like a shadow, swift and precise. Another shot rings out, and the man crumples to the floor.
I stare at the bodies now littering the small room, my pulse racing. "You're good at this."
Luca glances at me, his eyes dark. "Survival requires skill, you know."
As he steps over the fallen men, I follow close behind, trying to suppress the questions swirling in my mind. Should I really follow him? He is not Dante's enemy and it's not like I have much of a choice. If I remain here, they will take me away.
We emerge into the hallway, the faint sound of gunfire echoing in the distance. Alessio was right—this is a warzone. Luca moves with practiced ease, leading me through the labyrinth of corridors until we reach a back exit. He pauses, scanning the alleyway before motioning for me to follow.
As we step outside, the cool air hits my face, but I'm far from relieved. We're not safe yet.
Luca presses me against the wall, his breath hot against my ear. "Stay close."
I nod, my heart pounding as we make our way through the shadowed alleyways, his hand holding mine tightly. My mind races, a mix of fear, confusion, and something else—something I shouldn't be feeling. I'm Dante's wife, yet here I am, being rescued by the one man that has been taunting my thoughts since.
Just as we walk towards a car, someone comes running towards us and Luca quickly aims his gun but he does not pull the trigger. I watch him furrow his brows as he gently lowers his gun and that's when my eyes land on Alessio.
"Mr Moretti?" Alessio stares at him in confusion. "You are here?" His eyes move to me. "Are you alright, Anastasia? I was so worried. Our men are stationed around the building now, none of them are getting out alive. You are safe."
Luca scoffs, "Oh please. She's safe? She was at the brink of getting abducted by Vincenzo's men if I had not stepped in on time."
Alessio frowns. "Even if they had succeeded in taking her, they wouldn't have made it out of this building with her."
Luca does not say anything, as if he agrees with what Alessio had said. He doesn't argue further.
"You can let go of her now, Mr Moretti." Alessio adds.
Luca's eyes travel to his hand holding mine and he sighs before letting me go. "Is this how you thank me for helping you out with your job, Alessio?"
Alessio frowns harder before gesturing for me to move over to him. I glance at Luca before I slowly walk over to Alessio.
"I was doing just fine, Mr Moretti."
Just as we're about to move, gunshots ring out in the air. I scream in fear and instinctively hide behind Alessio. Both he and Luca immediately return fire at the attackers. More men rush onto the scene, and it's clear they're on our side as they engage the shooters in a fierce battle.
I stand there, frozen in the chaos, unsure of what to do. Alessio and Luca do their best to shield me from the gunfire and the approaching enemies.
Then, out of nowhere, teargas is thrown into the middle of the fight. I start coughing as the thick smoke fills the air, my eyes burning with tears. I desperately try to spot Alessio and Luca, but the smoke blinds me. Before I can take a step, two large hands grab me from behind, clamping over my mouth to muffle my scream. I struggle, but they're too strong, and within seconds, darkness consumes me once again.
~LUCA MORETTI~
I move through the gas, unaffected—it's not the first time I've dealt with something like this. Alessio is preoccupied, fighting off Vincenzo's men in the smoke, but I know their real goal is Anastasia. Moving quickly, I find a corner with clearer air and pull out my phone.
Antonio picks up on the second ring. "Boss, where are you? I've been calling non-stop, but you didn't pick up. The building is swarming with Vincenzo's men. We need to—"
"I need you to stop anyone or any vehicle trying to leave the building, Antonio. You must get the girl before Dante's men does."
"What girl?"
I roll my eyes, irritated. "Dante's wife, Antonio. Focus."
"Wait… the red haired woman? She's Dante's wife, boss. That's his problem. You need to leave the building."
"If they take her out of this building, I'm going to kill you. As soon as you get her, take her to my villa."
"Wait… what? Your villa?"
"Just do as I fucking say, Antonio!"
"Yes, boss." He relents.
After the last time I saw her, Antonio did some digging, and I was surprised by what he found. She was married to Dante Saviano. I thought after that night, I would forget her—just like I forget every other woman as soon as the night is over—but this time, it's different.
I didn't bother looking for her because it was supposed to be just a one-night stand. She was going to get married, and besides, I don't like Russian women—or so I pretend to believe. But I didn't just remember her name. I couldn't shake the memory of her hair, her skin, the curves of her body, her lips, and especially those seductive eyes...
The ringing of my phone snaps me out of my thoughts.
I reach for my phone and Antonio's voice crackles through the phone. "Boss, we've got her. She's in the SUV but sedated. What do you want me to do next?"
I heave a sigh of relief. She's Dante's wife—off-limits. I could have easily sent her to Dante's men but the stubborn part of me wants to take her to my villa and find out if I'm the only one feeling this way.
Besides, Dante only married her to protect the Italian family. It wasn't because he found her attractive or liked her, so I'm not out of the game yet.
The pull she has on me is like a damn curse. Ever since that night, I've been trying to convince myself it meant nothing, that she's just another woman but she's not.
"Drive to the villa," I say curtly, hanging up before Antonio can respond.
XOXO