Luca
The silk sheets whispered against my skin as I stirred, the ghost of last night's passion still lingering in the air. Sasha's scent clung to my pillow, a tempting reminder of our forbidden encounter.
Fuck.
I, Luca Moretti, the iron-fisted ruler of New York's underworld, had succumbed to desire. And not just any desire – the burning need for my enemy, my prisoner.
Sasha Ivanov.
The name alone sent a jolt of electricity through my veins. She was dangerous, a hacker with the power to bring empires to their knees. My empire.
I scrubbed a hand over my face, willing away the memory of her soft skin, her defiant eyes, the way she'd surrendered to me even as she claimed victory with every moan.
The harsh buzz of my phone cut through my thoughts. Salvatore's name flashed on the screen.
"Boss," his panicked voice crackled through the speaker before I could utter a word. "We're under attack! The shipment-"
Gunfire. A scream. Silence.
Ice flooded my veins, dousing the lingering heat of desire. "Location," I barked.
"Pier 17," Salvatore gasped. "Professional hit. We're outnumbered."
My jaw clenched. "Hold position. Reinforcements incoming."
I ended the call, my mind already racing through possibilities. The DeLucas? An inside job?
Or...
My gaze snapped to the door. Sasha.
I moved with lethal grace, my gun a comforting weight against my side as I stalked to her room. Had she played me? Used our night of passion to distract me while her associates struck?
The door slammed open under my palm. Sasha sat on the edge of the bed, her posture relaxed, eyes sharp.
"Expecting someone?" she drawled, one eyebrow arched in challenge.
I advanced, crowding her space, drinking in the sight of her. Even now, with suspicion coursing through me, I wanted her. "My shipment is under attack," I growled. "Your doing?"
Something flashed in her eyes – surprise, quickly masked. "If I wanted to destroy you, Luca," she purred, leaning in until her breath ghosted over my lips, "I wouldn't need guns. You know what I'm capable of."
I did. Her fingers on a keyboard were deadlier than any weapon.
"Then who?" The question escaped before I could stop it.
Sasha's lips curved into a dangerous smile. "Let me help you find out."
I stared at her, this beautiful, deadly woman who had invaded my life, my thoughts, my bed. Trusting her was madness.
Not trusting her might be worse.
"Fine," I snapped. "But you don't leave my sight. One wrong move, and I'll remind you exactly who you're dealing with."
Her eyes darkened with a mixture of challenge and desire. "Promise?"
I grabbed her wrist, yanking her close. "Don't push me, Sasha. Not now."
She met my gaze unflinchingly. "Then let's go, Luca. Your empire is under attack, and time is ticking."
As we strode out, Sasha falling into step beside me, I couldn't shake the feeling that everything was shifting. The ground beneath my feet, once solid, now felt treacherous.
But with Sasha by my side, her brilliant mind already working on the problem, I felt a surge of dark anticipation. Whatever was coming, we would face it together.
And leave nothing but ashes in our wake.
As we descended the grand staircase, the tension between us crackled like live wire. Sasha's presence beside me was both unsettling and oddly comforting. I could feel the heat of her body, smell the intoxicating scent of her skin. It was maddening.
"Brief me," she demanded, her voice all business despite the undercurrent of electricity between us.
I clenched my jaw, torn between desire and distrust. "Italian shipment. Weapons. My men were ambushed at Pier 17."
Her eyes narrowed, that brilliant mind of hers already at work. "Interesting timing," she mused. "Almost as if someone knew exactly when and where to strike."
The implication hung heavy in the air. A traitor in my ranks? The thought made my blood boil.
We reached my office, and I strode to the safe hidden behind a Monet. As I spun the dial, I felt Sasha's eyes on me, cataloging every move. I should care more about revealing my secrets to her, but right now, I needed her skills more than I needed to keep her in the dark.
"Here," I said, tossing her a laptop. "Show me what you can do."
Her fingers flew over the keys, and I watched in fascination as lines of code filled the screen. It was like watching a virtuoso at work, beautiful and terrifying in equal measure.
"Your security is shit," she muttered, not looking up. "No wonder someone got the drop on you."
I bristled at the insult, but before I could retort, my phone buzzed again. Marco.
"Boss, we've secured the pier. But the shipment... it's gone."
Rage surged through me. I slammed my fist on the desk, making Sasha jump. "Find it," I snarled into the phone. "I don't care what it takes. Find. It."
As I ended the call, I caught Sasha watching me, her expression unreadable. "What?" I snapped.
She shook her head, turning back to the laptop. "Nothing. Just... I've never seen you lose control before."
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. She was right. I prided myself on my iron control, on being ten steps ahead of everyone else. But now, with her in my life, with this attack... everything was spinning out of control.
"Got something," Sasha said suddenly. "A transmission, heavily encrypted. But the source..." She looked up at me, her eyes wide. "It's coming from inside your compound, Luca."
The world seemed to tilt on its axis. Inside my compound. My home. My fortress.
"Who?" I demanded, leaning over her shoulder to peer at the screen.
She shook her head. "I can't pinpoint it exactly, but it's definitely one of your inner circle. Someone with high-level access."
I straightened, my mind racing through possibilities. Who could it be? Who would dare betray me?
Sasha stood, her hand hesitantly touching my arm. The contact sent a jolt through me, and I had to resist the urge to pull her close.
"What's your play, Luca?" she asked softly. "How do you want to handle this?"
I looked at her, really looked at her. This woman who had been my enemy, who was now... what? An ally? Something more?
"We smoke them out," I said, my voice low and dangerous. "Set a trap. And when we catch this rat..." I let the sentence hang, the promise of violence clear in my tone.
Sasha's eyes glittered with a mixture of excitement and something darker. "And how do you propose we do that?"
A plan was already forming in my mind. It was risky, potentially disastrous. But with Sasha by my side...
"We're going to host a party," I said, a grim smile spreading across my face. "And you, my dear, are going to be the guest of honor."
Sasha's eyebrow arched. "A party? Now?"
I nodded, pulling her closer. "A celebration of our... alliance. We'll invite everyone, watch their reactions. And while they're distracted..."
"I'll be digging through their dirty laundry," she finished, a wicked grin spreading across her face.
"Exactly." I cupped her face, my thumb tracing her lower lip. "Think you're up for it, Ivanov?"
She leaned into my touch, her eyes never leaving mine. "Born ready, Moretti."
As I captured her lips in a searing kiss, I knew I was playing with fire. But with Sasha in my arms, her brilliant mind working in tandem with mine, I felt invincible.
Let them come. I'd be ready.
And God help the fool who had dared to cross me.