Page 7 of Luca

It had been almost a year since I first met Luca atPlatinum. Marcie had been planning their New Year’s Eve event, and I’d tagged along for the fun of it, never imagining I would meet the person who could have easily been the man of my dreams, except for one undeniable problem—he was a criminal. The type of man I had vowed never to get involved with.

Of course, that hadn’t stopped me succumbing to his charms and indulging in a heart stopping kiss with him. I blamed the cocktails for that lapse in judgment. That was the same excuse I had at Gracie’s wedding in December. And again, on New Year’s Eve. It was becoming a habit—a very bad one.

I’d rejected Luca because I refused to get personally involved with a criminal, no matter how drawn I was to him. It was naïve, really, considering my cousin Gracie had married one—Ash Rominov, no less—and was now expecting their first child. Like it or not, I was tied to the Rominovs. And Luca wasn’t just an employee; he was part of their Brotherhood. He’d also openly admitted to having the reputation of being a ladies’ man, which only made him more off-limits to me.

It didn’t matter that I was connected to the Rominov family now, or how incredible a kisser Luca was, I couldn’t let myself cross that line. Luca needed to stay firmly in the friend zone. So why did my treacherous heart clench at the thought?

I shook my head and let out a quiet, exasperated sigh. What was wrong with me? How did he keep getting under my skin?

When we had first kissed, I had been determined it would never happen again. Yet, twice since, I had allowed Luca to worm his way under my defences. Each time, the chemistry between us only grew hotter, and the last time—New Year’s Eve—it had happened in full view of all of our family and friends. The moment I realised what we’d done, I’d practically died on the spot, and in my panic I had pushed him away far more harshly than I intended.

But the guy hadn’t given up, despite the teasing he’d endured from everyone. For months, he always seemed to turn up wherever I went. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear someone—maybe Gracie or Marcie—was feeding him intel on my whereabouts.

Then, just like that, it stopped. He had gone silent on me. Gracie had mentioned he was away on business, but that had been weeks ago. I kept telling myself a relationship with him was off the table, yet I couldn’t shake the truth: I missed him. His absence was a stark reminder of how much he had crept into my life and thoughts, and how much I’d secretly enjoyed having him around.

The flowers he’d sent yesterday—my first sign of him in weeks—sat in a vase beside my bed at home, their vibrant colours a striking contrast to my swirling thoughts. A surge of excitement had coursed through me at their unexpected arrival, a lifeline after weeks of silence. Even now, their presence in my home warmed my heart, and I hated that it did.

I sighed, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. Gracie had managed to overcome the Bratva issue, and seeing her so happy with Ash made me wonder: if I weren’t so focused on my career, could I do the same? But I guess that was a moot point.

A romantic relationship with a man like Luca could ruin my reputation, but more than that, I feared it would shake the very foundation of my moral fibre. There was no escaping it. I needed to push my attraction for him aside and make it clear that nothing could happen between us before he pursued me in earnest again.

How I was going to do that, I didn’t know.

Maybe I should take up Damien Turner’s offer for dinner? Soon to become the youngest partner at the firm, and only a few years older than me, he was quite attractive, but mixing business with pleasure was always a dangerous game.

Or perhaps I should seek a distraction tonight? Dating someone else would surely send Luca the message that we weren’t meant to be. But as much as it might solve my problem, the very idea filled me with dread. I hadn’t been interested in another man since I met Luca. He was just so hot, and that kiss had left an everlasting impression. Damn, I had it bad!

My heart pounded, my core clenching as I remembered his lips and hands on me. God, it was going to be hard seeing him again and not giving in. I had to keep my distance. Because once he got too close, my resistance would crumble, and I’d be putty in his hands.

I shook my head in frustration. Clearly, finding someone else to take my mind off Luca wasn’t the solution. I needed to find another way to exorcise the maddening man from my thoughts. As for tonight, I would keep my distance. There was nothing else for it.

Closing my eyes, I took a steadying breath before stepping into the club, determined to make it through the night without breaking my vow.

Surely, I could manage that?

CHAPTER 4

LUCA

LONDON – SAME DAY – RUSHING HOME

My favourite playlist blasted through the speakers as I drove along the motorway back to London. I’d been sorting out a staffing issue at Platinum, which took longer than I’d anticipated, and now I was running late.

As I drove, my thoughts drifted to Claire, as they always seemed to do these days. After weeks of forced separation, I was finally going to see her again tonight, and the anticipation was a tight knot in my chest.

I hated being away from her, but it was necessary.

For the last couple of years, we and our Polish allies had been under constant attack from various enemies. After we’d wiped out the ones responsible for the attack on the Rominov family home, which we referred to as the Estate, and our drug lab—the same night I first kissed Claire—we discovered a network of men orchestrating the chaos behind the scenes.

One by one, we dismantled them, until we reached the man at the top. A corrupt politician and member of the UK government, Timothy Evans-Hughes, with a personal vendetta against the Bratva, intent on making us suffer.

But it wasn’t just about us—he was a twisted bastard in every sense. His company,Darkest Desire Productions, catered to richdegenerates who paid to hunt men and women for sport. Even as criminals, there were lines we wouldn’t cross, and murdering innocents for profit was one of them. It was something we couldn’t tolerate, especially when women were concerned.

There was no doubt that he’d needed to be stopped. But we had to tread carefully. Taking him down directly would have jeopardised our public image as legitimate businessmen.

That’s where our friend Anton came in. He got me in as a bodyguard, and I bided my time, earning the MP’s trust while we planned his downfall. Marcie’s position as the event planner at one of his garden parties provided the perfect distraction and gave us the opening we needed to pull off a heist and gather enough evidence to bring him down.

We handed it to the authorities anonymously, and the MP was hit with multiple charges, including murder. But, of course, the prick managed to get bail. Now he was tagged and under surveillance, unable to leave his home thanks to the reporters swarming his doorstep. In essence, he was under house arrest.