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“Thank you,” I whispered.
As his rigid body eased from my touch without rejecting me by moving away, I stayed. And I allowed the moment to linger.
Under the darkness, between death, wrath, and Italian words, I saw the possibility of a future with a killer.
For a moment, I allowed it.
For a moment, I grew weak.
For him.
I swearI’d lost my mind. I woke up with a smile, even in an empty bed. Today I got ready without hiding, and with a strapped knife underneath my white dress, I enjoyed each click and clack of my red bottoms. I knew, soon, they would be replaced by workout wear. Because Lucca gave in once, the second time would be easier. Or so I hoped.
There was an extra bounce of determination with each step I took downstairs. Because the high of getting my way was a feeling I could get used to. One I enjoyed, even if it felt naive.
Lucca had promised to take me into the city, and I looked forward to leaving the house. Perhaps I could get my way again under the sun instead of a veil of darkness. At this point, I would never stop trying. Addicted to the possibilities, the risks, and the chances for another moment of treaty.
Breakfast should be served soon, but I had left the coziness of the bedroom to catch him before the presence of others. To measure his mood; maybe it had lifted as mine had.
The door to his study was shut, the house was quiet without his men running in and out, and I stood still in front of the heavy wood frame.
Where was everyone?
I didn’t bother to knock. I just pushed the door open and took a step inside.
My feet failed me, and my body froze at the sight.
Forget about Lucca and his mood. I was petrified by two bears that sat on each side of him.
With wide eyes, a bouncing chest, and a hammering heart, my foot slid backward.
“Don’t,” Lucca’s calm tone assured.
Yet, nothing in me eased.
I knew their breed. Knew their protective line and their long wolf-like teeth that could tear and kill when trained. They weren’t dogs. They were weapons.
Caucasian Shepherds.
One white as fresh snow, the other midnight black. Opposites in appearance but equals in threat.
They stood at attention, waiting for a command as they closely watched me.
“Lucca.” My voice hitched, and their ears twitched.
“This is Wex and Vino,” Lucca introduced the two wool balls of monstrosity.
I could feel his eyes on me from the middle of the room. He remained seated in front of a table with a game of chess before him. Only three moves had been made on the board, but I couldn’t catch the plays. Not when I was the stranger in the room with two dogs who wouldn’t take their sight away from me.
It all made sense. The lack of movement inside the home, the quiet halls. The serenity.Theywere inside. Even with high-maintenance training, Caucasian Shepherds could turn on anyone if they felt their owners were at risk. Always alert, always looking for danger. Never let their guard down, even at home.
As we all stood quietly growing accustomed to one another, I saw their beauty. It was brutal and yet regal against their master.
“Ilias has been keeping an eye on them since you arrived. It was time to bring them home and introduce them to you.”
My eyes snapped at his cool tone, and I took the chance to look at him. A clean black dress shirt clung to his body as he sat on the leather cushion, untouched by any trace of death in his eyes or blood from the night before. Casual and detached, Lucca spoke as if my small victory from the night before in the darkness had been forgotten.
It weighed my chest down, but I couldn’t concentrate on my feelings or his. The company of who he’d named Vino and Wex outweighed it all.
