u

es fixed on the vast estate sprawled beneath me. The golden

u

ts of a sleepless night... a con

thinking?" I muttered

t was an impulsive, irrational thought... an outright declaration

a headache while she w

of her relentless banging on the door, her shrill curse

rning, I had nearly orde

glass of whiskey and questioning why I

ny desk. I spared a glance at the screen, rolling my eyes wh

e. Not desperate enou

f texts and missed calls from Mr De Luca, Cater

along the

the gi

re you

t some ga

ns, and even I didn't have a good explanation. Instead, I silenced

ould j

. Raphael, my most trusted enforcer, entered the

the upper wing, it was a

ing at attention. "The staff

ked, though I knew

h

ane of my

wing things. Apparently, she broke a

of my nose. "Send someone to clean it up. And tell th

emanding new clothes. Says

,

my lips. She's already issuing demands,

would Alessan

said dismissively. "I'll dea

without another word, le

*

t of fruits, pastries, and steaming cups of espresso. I sat at the head of the ta

Raphael, who stood by the

by two of my men. She was still in the same dress from the night before, the once elegant fabric now wrinkled

eris

e was be

ed, leaning back in my chair whil

e. "I'd say the same, but that would impl

down with all the grace of a lioness cornered in a cage. Without wait

witched.

th venom. "Being kidnapped tends to ruin one'

t only seemed to fuel her a

d me, watching her in quiet amusement while pretending not to notice the glare. The tens

inking loudly against the saucer. "You've proved y

Ri

d, studying her. "You think t

voice rising. "Why else woul

ing my elbows on the table. "I p

bitter. "You

rha

unspoken challenge

forever?" she asked, her voic

d

d, I reached for my coffee, taking

aying with this woman for

said finally. "Let's just

re enjoying this, aren't

ted, a hint of admiration in m

I could tell she was trying to supp

t only grew

thought of it was absurd. The little tigress wasn't a woman who c

ed across from me, throwing

my h

air back abruptly and stood, clearly ready to retreat to th

erin

und of my voice, sh

ut, not bothering

room in a few long strides until I

nd," I sai

t her sides, but she obeyed, sp

th people, Luca?" She asked, h

they look

ing in rapid beats. I couldn't help but reach out, brushing the st

rmured, my voice ba

" she co

y lips. "Good. Loathe ke

against the curve of her cheek. The touch was fleeting,

hough burned, her wide eyes searching

our day,

er standing in the middle of the room, her emotion

orino

,