Chapter 6 - The Boss Arrives
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We both whipped around.
Standing in the library doorway was Luca Moretti.
He wore a tailored black suit that fit his broad shoulders perfectly, looking every inch the ruthless syndicate boss the city feared. In his left hand, he casually held a crystal flute of champagne. His dark, intelligent eyes scanned the room, instantly calculating the tension, the smell of smoke, and the aggressive posture of his fiancée.
Vanessa’s entire demeanor changed in a fraction of a second. The vicious predator vanished, replaced instantly by a sweet, adoring bride-to-be.
“Darling!” Vanessa cooed, practically floating across the rug toward him. She placed a delicate hand on his chest. “It’s nothing, really. Claire just had a little accident by the fireplace, and I was telling her she should go home and rest.”
Luca didn't look at her. He didn't return her smile. His gaze bypassed her entirely and locked onto me. More specifically, he locked onto the wisps of gray smoke still rising from my hands.
The air in the room grew suddenly cold. The playful banter of the party outside seemed to fade into absolute silence.
Luca took a slow, deliberate step into the library, gently moving Vanessa’s hand off his chest.
“Claire,” Luca said, his voice a low, commanding rumble.
“Yes, sir?” I managed to squeak out, my heart hammering in my ears.
He took another step closer, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the situation. “What are you holding?”
Vanessa panicked. She tried to step between us, her voice an octave higher than usual. “Luca, sweetheart, it’s just some trash. Something Matteo made at school. It’s broken and dirty, I was just having her dispose of it before the guests saw.”
Luca completely ignored her. He stepped around her, closing the distance between us until he was standing right in front of me. He was a towering man, and up close, the intensity in his eyes was terrifying.
Then, he looked down. He saw the wooden box. He saw the crooked letters carved into the lid.
FOR DAD. LOVE, MATTEO.
May you like
Luca stopped breathing for a second. The champagne glass in his hand slowly lowered to his side. The ruthless mafia boss disappeared, replaced entirely by a father seeing a piece of his son's heart in the hands of a servant.
“Give me that,” Luca whispered softly.
