Cook for the Mafia Boss

a future she wasn't sure she wanted. She absentmindedly traced the rim ofher wine glass, the chill of the crystal offering no comfort. "Francesca!" A voice broke through her reverie. She turned

room. Her heart hammered, her body suddenly too aware of every small shift in the air. He smiled-barely-a curve of his lips that held none of the warmth of a true smile. It was a promise wrapped in danger. "We'll meet again soon," he murmured, his breath brushing her ear, sending a shiver down her spine. "I promise." Her stomach flipped, the words sinking deep, settling into her bones. This wasn't a casual remark. It was something more. She couldn't tell what, but it terrified her. And then, just as swiftly as he had appeared, Luca was gone, vanishing back into the crowd. The feeling of his absence lingered, pressing on her chest and making the room feel alien and distant. For hours, Francesca couldn't shake the feeling of his presence. The party continued around her, a blur of conversation and polite smiles, but it was all a haze. Her thoughts circled back to him-his eyes, his words, the brush of his presence. His touch. She couldn't focus on anything else. Her phone buzzed, pulling her from her thoughts. A message from her mother: How's the party? Is the Sunday dinner still scheduled? She stared at the screen, her fingers hesitating over the keys before she typed a quick reply: Fine. Nothing exciting. But that wasn't true. While nothing was thrilling, everything else was. Her thoughts drifted back to Luca, to that fleeting yet profound moment when their eyes met and her heartbeat lurched. It wasn't just physical-it was something else. Something untouchable. Dangerous. The low murmur of the conversation around her became muffled, like she was hearing it through water. She felt the pressure of Luca's gaze, even now, as though he were still watching her. His scent lingered in the air-a faint, almost imperceptible trace of his cologne, a ghost she couldn't escape. "What's going on with you?" Nicole's voice broke throu