s Playgrou

seen Palermo t

ows. The backseat of the black Maserati smelled like leather, lust and danger. Luca hadn't spoken a word since they

h she was barely seeing them. Her skin still burned where h

ulled away. Sho

he di

was, driving deep

gates and the city seemed to exhale all its secrets. He Par

voice icy despite the war

k eyes unreadable. "Somewhe

n, Amara wasn't sure if she wanted to escape. The part of her that should've been afraid was

d out into the night, the air thick with salt and smoke. Luca didn't wait. He took her b

e was nothing li

urtains. Walls lined with paintings that looked stolen from forgotten churches. There wa

f her wrist and tur

e asked, alr

r. He handed her

took

dr

n stead

wirling his drink slowly. His eyes ro

e said. Not angry. Just stating

e replied. "Yo

ver the rim of the glass. "Did I des

u don't get to play the vict

er the victim. But don't rewrite history,

d quickly. "I

e he was stalking something fragile. He set his

ying," she

ng a lock of hair behind her ea

s hand away. "

mused. "You can't lie to me, cara Mia.

esire," she hissed. "You want

low, primal. "Not like a possession. Like a

ad, stepping bac

k," she sai

said, "you c

to the magnetism in his voice, to the way his presence filled a ro

oser. She backe

beside her head, caging her in.

You want a reward? A thank you f

want you to understa

the predator's mask. Obsession. Pain. Need. Not weakness-Lu

moved on," she

ugh. "From the illusion that

wed hard.

nding I can liv

erous. She gasped, not from fear, but from

sane," she

" he said. "An

etween them was molten

ed him

elf more for n

uc

th was alre

me, she did

ppable. His tongue claimed her like it had a right to, like

Then his chest. Then the hem of

st her lips, pin

im, the sound fur

whisper, "you have no idea

e beli

e ruin in his kiss. Felt

s no lo

as a

already blee