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Luca.

The cool afternoon air kissed the back of my neck, a stark contrast to the warmth of the woman's body pressed against mine.

Rissa.

Her hands trailed up my chest with an eager familiarity, and I let her, though the effort not to recoil irritated me more than it should.

Rissa had been predictable since the day I met her... a safe harbour in a world that constantly demanded sharp reflexes and unrelenting focus. The daughter to one of my father’s closest friends.

I didn't need to explain myself to her, nor did I have to pretend I cared beyond what was required. She gave without expectation, though I knew she wanted more.

Her laugh was soft and breathy as I trailed kisses down her neck, my hand skimming the curve of her hip.

"You missed me," she murmured, her tone tinged with smug satisfaction.

This was something the group chat would hear about later.

I didn't respond.

The statement was a lie, and I wasn't in the habit of feeding fantasies. Tonight, she was little more than a distraction, a placeholder to occupy the space Caterina had recently begun to invade.

But even now, my attention wasn’t fully on her.

What was it about that sharp tongued woman that intrigued me?

The sharp edge of red fabric peeking through the hedges to my left had stolen my focus the moment I saw it.

A gown I recognized all too well.

How was she here, and what exactly was she playing at?

Rissa leaned into me, sighing contentedly as I planted another kiss along her collarbone. I kept my movements slow, deliberate, letting her think she had my full attention while my eyes remained locked on the gap in the shrubbery.

Caterina was there.

I could feel her presence... hot, furious, and buzzing with barely contained defiance. The thought brought a faint smirk to my lips.

Did she think I wouldn't notice her? Or perhaps this was her way of attempting some clumsy escape or a way to get back at me for the great evil she thought I had done to her?

Either way, I wasn’t about to let her get away with it.

"You've been rougher than usual today," Rissa murmured, her voice thick with something she likely believed to be seduction.

"Have I?" My tone was calm, disinterested, though I allowed a hint of amusement to creep into my expression.

She didn’t notice.

She rarely noticed anything beyond her own desires.

Her moans grew louder as I let my lips trail lower, grazing the exposed skin at the edge of her neckline with my teeth. The sound grated in my ears, but I endured it. This wasn't for her.

This was for my amorino.

I kept my eyes fixed on the gap between the hedges, unblinking. She wouldn't move... not yet. She was far too proud to retreat and far too stubborn to look away.

The thought amused me.

Was she seething with rage, disgusted by what she was witnessing? Did she find this simply annoying? Or there was something else beneath that fiery exterior... a curiosity she wouldn't dare admit.

I wondered if she would think of me doing this to her.

Biting her soft skin... kissing those luscious pink lips...

"Damn, Luca."

Rissa shifted against me, her hands tangling in my hair as she let out another soft moan. I barely noticed.

My focus was entirely on the shrubbery, on the faint movement I could just make out in the shadows.

Maybe she would watch me use my fingers to spread her thighs apart...

Rissa's breath hitched as I slipped the strap of her dress from her shoulder, exposing the curve of her breast. The fabric rustled faintly, and I could have sworn I heard the faintest intake of breath from the bushes.

Ah, Caterina. So you are watching.

Was this what turned her on?

Rissa whimpered as I pressed my lips to her bare skin, but I kept my movements measured. This wasn't about passion or even pleasure. This was control... a game I intended to win.

"You're distracted," Rissa said softly, her fingers tracing patterns along my arm.

I leaned back slightly, giving her a ghost of a smile. “Just enjoying the view.”

Her face lit up with a pleased smile, mistaking the words for affection.

Poor thing.

I considered dragging this out longer, letting Caterina stew in her hiding spot until her legs gave out or her frustration boiled over. But before I could decide, a piercing alarm shattered the quiet night.

I froze, my lips inches from Clarissa’s skin.

“What the...” Rissa began, but her words were drowned out by the blaring noise that echoed across the estate.

“Where is she? WHERE IS SHE?”

The panicked shout cut through the alarm, sharp and frantic.

Guess they knew Caterina wasn't within the walls of the mansion anymore.

Rissa stiffened in my arms, her eyes wide with confusion. “What’s going on?”

I ignored her, my eyes snapping back to the hedges. The red fabric was gone.

The corner of my mouth twitched in irritation, though a flicker of amusement lingered beneath the surface.

So she made a move, didn't she? Clever girl.

"Stay here," I said, stepping away from Rissa and straightening my jacket.

She reached for my arm, her expression a mix of confusion and fear. “Luca...”

“Now,” I said sharply, cutting her off. My tone left no room for argument.

She flinched but released me, her hands dropping to her sides.

I turned on my heel and strode toward the source of the commotion, my steps measured despite the rapid thudding of my pulse. The game had just gotten interesting.

The alarm continued to blare, the sound almost deafening.

Two of my guards appeared in the courtyard.

“She’s gone,” one of the guards stammered, his face pale and sweat beading on his brow.

I raised an eyebrow, feigning indifference. “Is that so?”

“Yes, sir,” he said nervously. “We’ve searched most of the grounds...”

I cut him off with a curt nod. “That will be all.”

The guard hesitated, clearly expecting a stronger reaction, but I turned away, heading toward the room I had assigned to Caterina.

The thought of her outwitting my men amused me more than it annoyed me. If she was gone, then she had orchestrated an elaborate ruse... and if she wasn’t... well, I’d deal with that soon enough.

The hallway was silent as I reached her door. I didn’t bother knocking. A sense of possession stirred within me.

This was my house, and she was my guest.

Kidnapped guest, but guest nonetheless.

I opened the door and stepped inside, my eyes immediately scanning the dimly lit room.

There she was.

Caterina stood near the dresser, her hair damp and clinging to her shoulders, droplets of water glistening on her skin. Her eyes widened in surprise, then narrowed in defiance as I took a step closer.

“What do you want?” she snapped, her voice sharp but breathless.

I smirked, leaning casually against the doorframe as I studied her.

“Well, well,” I said softly. “You’re full of surprises, aren’t you?”