10 Hear me out
“Elle…”
“Ah!” I yelped in the softly lit office, startled. “Luca, you really need to stop sneaking up on me like that!”
Luca had a knack for appearing out of nowhere, and tonight was no different. My heart raced as I noticed the subtle white strip across his neck–a scent mask, no doubt. That explained how he could move so silently.
But more pressing was the question-
“How did you get in here?”
He pointed toward the door as if that explained everything.
I groaned. “I mean, how did you bypass security?” I glanced at the clock; it was well past midnight. “Did the guards just let you waltz in?”
“Of course, Luca replied, a nonchalant
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shrug accompanying his words.
“Oh, for the love of the Family…” I rubbed my temples, feeling the tension build. How could I forget that Luca was the Capo of the Marcelli family?
Tonight, I found myself working late, drowning in the details of a new shipment. that had to be prepped for our next deal. When Don Vincent announced the new venture–a risky expansion into rival. territory–my mind had been racing with strategies. Hours slipped by, the outside world fading as I lost track of time, immersed in spreadsheets and plans.
Then, out of nowhere, Luca was there, too close, his breath hot against my ear.
I nearly jumped out of my skin. The moonlight framed him in a ghostly glow, his usual confidence replaced by something more serious, almost ominous.
“What do you want, Luca?” I finally managed, trying to keep the unease from
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creeping into my voice.
“I need to talk to you, Elena. About us,” he said, his tone steady but laced with an urgency that caught my attention.
At first, I wanted to roll my eyes and dismiss him. Yet there was something in his expression that held me back. Maybe it was the vulnerability shining through his usually composed demeanor.
“What’s this about?” I asked, curiosity piqued despite myself.
A glimmer of relief crossed his features, and he stepped closer, extending a hand toward me, palm open, an offering that felt both inviting and intimidating. “I swear I won’t make this difficult. Just come with me,” he said, a tentative smile trying to break through his serious facade.
For a moment, I cursed myself for feeling my heart race.
“Fine,” I said, nodding slowly, willing myself to appear unfazed. “But I need to
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