Chapter 289 33

Chapter 289 33
Reyna POV

The invitation burns a hole on the desk, gold letters spelling out what my parents want, the whole city to see  my name tied to Alessandro Romano. Their perfect choice. Their second chance at controlling me after Charles.

When Luca walks in without knocking, his eyes land on it immediately and his jaw hardens.

"You're not going," he says.

I lean back in my chair, forcing calm I don't feel. "It's my engagement party, Luca. Do you really expect me to sit here and let them parade me around like I don't exist?"

His voice drops lower, rougher. "I expect you not to walk into a room that man owns. Romano isn't just another name your parents dug up, he's been after Dante for years. He probably worked with Francesca to kidnap Ana and Bianca months back. You think he won't use you if it gets him closer to his goal of killing Dante and taking over his syndicate?"

The words twist inside me but I lift my chin anyway. "So what do you want me to do? Hide forever? Pretend this doesn't matter?"

Luca steps closer, heat rolling off him, his fist tight at his side. "I want you safe, Reyna. That's it."

"Then come with me," I snap back. "If you don't trust him, then stand next to me. Make it clear I'm not Alessandro's. That I've already chosen you." my eyes holds his and for a second he just stares at me, like he can't believe I just said this. His eyes search mine and I don't blink.

Finally, he mutters, "You'll be the death of me."

"Maybe," I breathe, "but you'll be standing next to me when it happens."

The ballroom glitters with chandeliers and gold trim, everyone dressed to be seen. Whispers start the second I walk in with Luca at my side, his hand steady on my back.

My mother is the first to cut across the room, her face stretched in a smile that doesn't reach her eyes. "Reyna, what are you doing?" Her eyes flick down to Luca with open disgust. "With... him?"

"My date," I say simply, looping my arm tighter through his.

Her face stiffens. "This is an engagement party, not a circus. You're humiliating us."

"No," I say louder, steady. "I'm finally telling the truth." I glance at Luca, then face the room. "This is the man I want, not Alessandro. Not anyone you try to sell me off to."

Gasps ripple around us. My father's face darkens, his hand curling at his side as he hisses, "You're embarrassing this family."

"I'm protecting myself," I fire back. "And I'm done letting you control me."

I feel Luca's grip on my hand tighten but he doesn't say a word, he just stands like stone beside me as if to show everyone he isn't going anywhere.

Across the room, Alessandro Romano finally looks up. He doesn't move, doesn't speak, just watches with that cold, unreadable stare he's famous for. His silence says enough, he doesn't like being crossed, not in public, not by anyone, not by me.

When we leave, we pass right by him. Luca doesn't break stride, his shoulder slams hard into Alessandro's, a silent warning to Alessandro that is definitely louder than any words. Romano doesn't flinch, but his eyes follow us the whole way out.

We don't stop and we don't look back.

The ride back to Luca's apartment is silent, but it isn't empty. His hand never leaves mine, his knuckles brushing against my thigh as he drives. His jaw is tight, eyes locked on the road, but every red light, I catch him looking at me, like he's making sure I'm still here.

When we finally pull into his building, he kills the engine and leans back in his seat. For a second, I think he's going to tell me I shouldn't have done it, that I've made things worse. Instead, he says quietly, "You didn't even hesitate back there."

I unbuckle my seatbelt, my pulse loud in my ears. "Because I meant it."

Something flickers in his eyes, something I can't look away from. By the time we make it upstairs, the air between us feels heavy. He pushes the door open, lets me in first, but the second it closes behind him, I can't keep the words inside.

"I know what people, Dante, say about you Luca, that you're dangerous? That you'll ruin me and pull me deeper into this Mafia world?" I step closer until we're chest to chest, daring him. "Maybe they're right, but I don't care."

He grabs my wrist, his voice rough. "You don't get it, Reyna. I'm not clean, I'm not safe, and every step closer to me drags you deeper."

"Then drag me," I whisper back.

That's it. He doesn't wait another second. His mouth crashes against mine, hard and desperate, like he's been holding back for weeks and has just snapped. My back hits the wall, his hands wrap around my waist, pulls me closer against him. I kiss him back just as fiercely, my fingers grip the front of his shirt.

We stumble through the apartment, our lips never leaving each other, until he lifts me onto the counter. The kiss slows, softer now, his forehead leaning on mine as we both try to catch our breath.

"Tell me to stop," he murmurs.

I shake my head. "Don't."

The words are barely out before he's kissing me again, slower this time, deeper, like he's tasting every piece of me he's wanted but never let himself have. My hands tangle in his hair, pulling him closer, his body solid between my legs.

The heat spikes, control slipping, clothes tugged and half-forgotten, his hands everywhere and mine just as desperate. It's not just want, it's need. Need that's been building since the first time he touched me.

His mouth is on mine again, hungry and rough, and I don't think either of us is holding back anymore. Every touch feels like fire, every breath stolen between kisses, and I let myself fall into it completely. His hands grip my waist, pulling me closer, lifting me against him, and I wrap my legs around him like I've been waiting for this since the moment we met.

Clothes hit the floor without care, the air between us hot and charged. There's no space left, no distance, just the raw need neither of us bothered to hide anymore. He kisses me like he owns me and I kiss him back like I'm not planning on letting him go either.

It isn't soft, it isn't careful, but it's real. Every second of it.

His hands find my waist, lifting me easily, and my legs wrap around him like they were meant to. I can feel the heat rolling off him, the tight control he usually holds slipping fast.

Our clothes comes off fast, careless, like neither of us has the patience to slow down. My dress hits the floor, his shirt right after, and I can't stop touching him, can't stop wanting more. Every kiss is deeper, hungrier, pulling me under.

He carries me to the bedroom and lays me down, his mouth still on mine, his hands running down my sides like he's memorizing every inch. I drag him closer, pulling at him until there's no space left between us.

The night blurs. There's no stopping, no second-guessing, just us finally giving in to everything we've been holding back and for the first time, I don't think about danger or betrayal or who might be watching. Just Luca. Just us.

I don't even remember when sleep finally takes me.

But the next morning, it's the sound of the front door opening that jolts me awake.

Luca stirs beside me, his arm tightening around me, and I blink up at him groggy, confused.

And then the footsteps follow, loud and confident, moving straight down the hall toward the bedroom.

My heart stops.

Luca doesn't even have time to sit up before the door pushes open.

Dante.

"Shit!!" he mutters, spinning around and walking out of the room so fast before we can even comprehend what just happened.