~ANASTASIA~
My head throbs, a dull ache radiating through my body as I force my eyes open. The room around me is unfamiliar, sterile, and confusion settles in. The last thing I remember is being grabbed by strong hands, the sting of a needle in my skin, and then darkness. Now I'm here. But where is 'here'?
My gaze lands on my bag and coat, neatly placed on a chair and table nearby. This isn't Dante's house. Did Alessio bring me to a safe location? A knot of worry tightens in my chest as I think of Luca. Is he alright? Shaking the thought from my mind, I get out of bed. Luca's a mafia boss, he can take care of himself.
I walk to the window, pulling back the curtain to take a peek outside. My eyes widen at the sight below—armed guards are everywhere. My heart skips a beat when I spot a familiar figure. Luca. He's standing with another man, hands casually in his pockets as if this is just another day.
What is Luca doing here? Panic rises in me, and just then, he glances up. Our eyes lock for a brief moment before he turns away, walking toward the building.
I quickly back away from the window and sit on the edge of the bed, my pulse racing. Did Luca and Alessio rescue me together? And where is Alessio? I stand up to search through my bag for my phone, but it's missing. Just as I reach for my coat, the door swings open.
Luca strides in, his presence dominating the room. I grip the edge of the chair, unable to hide my unease.
"How are you feeling? Should I get you anything?" he asks, his eyes assessing me.
I blink, trying to process what's happening. Alessio never approved of me being close to Luca, so why am I here with him now?
"I... I'm fine," I stammer, regaining my voice. "What are you doing here? And why didn't you knock?"
A smirk plays on his lips. "Because it's my house, red-haired. I can walk into any room I please."
My eyes widen in shock. "Your house? How did I end up in 'your' house?"
He grins as he walks over to the window, glancing outside as if nothing is out of the ordinary.
I press on, "And even if this is your house, you can't just walk in like that. What if I was—what if I was naked?"
He turns back to me, his gaze slowly tracing from my face down my body, and I shift nervously under his stare.
"You've seen me naked too, red-haired," he says with a wicked smile.
I feel my cheeks flush as memories from that night come flooding back. Shaking my head, I try to focus. "Stop joking, Luca. This isn't funny."
He chuckles. "Alright, alright. Forgive my manners. I'm not used to having company."
I take a breath and scan the room again. "Where's Alessio? What happened back there?"
Luca shrugs as he sits on the bed, his relaxed demeanor completely at odds with the chaos of earlier. "He's probably panicking right now, wondering where you are."
My eyes widen. "Wait... He doesn't know I'm here?"
Luca shakes his head. "Nope and that's going to take him some time because he's going to assume Vincenzo's men took you."
I walk over to him, frowning in confusion. "Then why did you bring me here? I thought you were helping Alessio?"
Luca grins that familiar, infuriating grin. "Why would I help him do his job? I brought you here on purpose. Vincenzo's men sedated you, and I stepped in before they could take you. I acted before Alessio's men could."
"What? But... why?"
Luca stands, closing the space between us. His eyes darken, and suddenly, his proximity feels dangerous. I take a step back, my body pressing against the wall.
"I really don't don't like Russian women, red haired." he says quietly, his voice low as he moves even closer. "And after that night, I thought you'd be like all the others—easy to forget. But you're not." He lifts a hand, brushing a strand of hair from my face, and my breath catches. "I brought you here because I need to know something."
I blink, heart pounding. "Know what?"
His voice drops further, barely a whisper. "I need to know if you're in love with him."
My mind spins. "Love who?"
"Your husband, red-haired," he murmurs, his eyes searching mine. "I know Dante married you for business, to keep Vincenzo in check. But do you—'could' you—love him?"
I stare at him, trying to keep my emotions in check. "Why... Why do you care?"
Luca's eyes bore into mine, and he leans in so close I can feel the heat of his breath. "Do you know what I hate most, red-haired?" He strokes the hair from my face again, his fingers lingering on my skin. "I hate being drawn to something I can't have. It makes me hellbent on having it."
My heart races as Luca's words sink in. His gaze is too intense, too invasive, and I can't escape it. He leans even closer, his breath warm against my skin. I want to push him away, to yell at him, but my body betrays me. I stand frozen, his words echoing in my head
I swallow hard, my voice barely a whisper. "Luca, this is wrong. You can't—"
"I can't what?" he interrupts, his voice low and dangerous. "I can't want you? I can't be curious if the woman I slept with has feelings for a man who treats her like a business deal?"
I shake my head, trying to make sense of everything. "This isn't about Dante. This... whatever this is, it's between you and me. And it was supposed to stay in the past."
Luca's eyes flicker with something I can't quite place—frustration? Desire? "You're right. It was supposed to be nothing, a one-night thing. But now, I can't stop thinking about you, red-haired. I need to know why."
I also cannot stop thinking about him but I am not about to say that. I cannot afford to start what I cannot finish. My pulse quickens as he moves even closer, his lips brushing against my ear as he speaks. "Do you feel something for him, Anastasia? Or were you just as lost in that night as I was?"
His words send a chill down my spine, and I clench my fists, trying to regain control. "Why does it matter, Luca? You're playing a dangerous game. Dante will—"
"Dante doesn't scare me," Luca cuts me off, his voice sharp. "He doesn't care about you the way I do."
I stare at him, the weight of his words settling between us like a heavy fog. "And what exactly do you care about, Luca?" I challenge, my voice stronger now. "Is it really about me, or is this just lust?"
Luca's expression hardens, and for a moment, I see a flicker of vulnerability behind the mask he always wears. "Maybe it's both," he admits, his voice raw. "But I'm not letting you go until I find out which exactly it is."
He reaches out, his hand cupping my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. "Do you feel something for me, red haired? Or do you want to find out if you do?"
I pull away from his touch, my heart pounding in my chest. "You don't get to ask me that," I say, my voice shaking with anger and confusion. "I'm married, Luca. I'm married to one of the most dangerous mafia don in Italy. If I get involved with you, it will not only put me in trouble but it will also cost your relationship with Dante."
Luca's eyes narrow, and I see the frustration building in him. "You're avoiding the question. My relationship with Dante has nothing to do with this. If we find out it's nothing more than attraction, then I'll let you go."
I turn away from him, walking toward the window, needing to put distance between us. "I… I just don't want to start something I cannot finish, Luca."
His footsteps echo behind me as he closes the space between us again. "What are you scared of?" he asks quietly.
I stare into his eyes, and my heart pounds wildly in my chest. What am I scared of? I'm not scared of Dante finding out; he's made it perfectly clear that I'm free to do as I please. No, what terrifies me is the thought of starting something out of curiosity and ending up falling for Luca. That should be fine—except it won't be if he doesn't fall for me in return.
That's the real fear—the vulnerability, the risk of giving in to something that could leave me broken. I already know that I'm going to live through a loveless marriage, one built on convenience, not emotion. But with Luca, this... this could be something else. Something dangerous. Another thing I can't control.
I close my eyes, the memories of that night flooding back. The way his touch made my skin burn, the way I felt completely lost in the moment. But I can't let myself go there. Not now.
"I'm married, Luca," I say, my voice barely above a whisper.
"You're married in name only," he shoots back. "We both know that."
I spin around to face him, anger flaring inside me. "That doesn't make it any less real. I made vows, Luca. I can't—"
He silences me with a kiss, his lips crashing against mine with a hunger that sends shockwaves through my body. He pulls me up and wrap my legs around his waist as he continues his assault on my lips.
Luca's lips are relentless, and my resolve crumbles with every second. His hands slide up my back, pulling me tighter against him as if he can't bear the thought of space between us. My legs tightens around his waist, instinctively, and I'm no longer thinking—only feeling. His kiss is fierce, filled with the kind of hunger that burns through any rational thought I might have had left.
My hands tangle in his hair, pulling him closer, while his grip on my waist tightens. Heat radiates between us, and I can't stop the low moan that escapes my lips as his mouth trails down my jawline, leaving a scorching path to my neck. His breath is hot against my skin, and every nerve in my body is on fire.
He presses me against the wall, and the intensity of his kiss makes it impossible to think about anything other than him—his scent, his touch, the way his hands roam over my body as if he's memorizing every inch.
"Luca..." I breathe, my voice barely audible as I try to catch my breath. But he doesn't stop. His mouth moves back to mine, more urgent now, as if he's trying to claim me, make me forget anything else but him.
His hands slide down to my thighs, and without breaking the kiss, he lifts me effortlessly, carrying me away from the wall. I feel the cool air against my skin as he moves us toward the bed, the world around us disappearing until there's nothing left but Luca, his touch, and the wild beating of my heart.
We stumble toward the bed, his lips never leaving mine, and the back of my mind warns me that this is reckless, dangerous even. But the way his body presses against mine, the way his lips demand more, drowns out every warning bell.
He lowers me onto the bed, hovering over me for just a moment, his dark eyes burning with desire. He brushes a strand of hair from my face, his touch surprisingly tender compared to the fevered heat of his kiss.
"What are you doing to me, red haired?" he breathes, his voice hoarse, filled with a need that mirrors my own.
Before I can respond, he's kissing me again, his hand gently caressing my thighs, his body pressed against mine, and I'm lost—completely lost to him, to the moment, to the madness that comes with wanting something I know I can't have.
He pulls away briefly, his lips trailing down to my chest. I arch my back, hands slipping to the nape of his neck, savoring the heat of his kisses—until a sudden knock breaks the moment.
Luca groans in frustration, turning his head toward the door. "Who is it?"
"It's Antonio, boss," the voice responds, followed by a tense pause. "We've got a problem."
Luca sighs and glances back at me, leaning down to press a soft kiss on my forehead before rising from the bed. "What problem, Antonio?"
"Dante Saviano is here."
My eyes widen in shock, and I spring out of the bed.
XOXO