like a gunshot. Lily's grip on Luca's arm tightened reflexively, her breath caught in her throat as her heart hamm

, his dark eyes locking onto hers with

pilling into the room. "She couldn't have gone far," a gruff voice said from the hallway. Lily

. Mr. Castellano

know he was here too, or were they simply acting on his earl

s suffocating, the silence so profound that even Lily's shallow breathing felt

or, his hand gripping the edge of it just as it began to swing wider.

er hesitat

leaving no room for argument. He pushed the door sh

ponse. Finally, the sound of retreating footsteps echoed down the hallway, growing fainter with each passing sec

as though searching for something she wasn't sure she could give him. When he finally spoke, his voice was low and

s she met his gaze. "You don't give orders to me," she sai

dark amusement. He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming as he loomed over her. "You're in my hou

a's gaze, the way his intensity seemed to wrap around her like a tangible force, made it impossible to

e blurted out before s

eyes amusement, perhaps, or maybe curiosity. "A journalist," he repeated, his

ut he was too sharp, too perceptive. He'd see right through her. But telling the truth

inally, her voice barely above a whisper. "The

d them seemed to grow colder, heavier. When he finally spoke, his voice was calm, but there wa

t his gaze. "I've seen the evidence. I know about

d, he took a step back, his gaze never leaving hers. "You're playing a dangerous game," he

hough her voice wavered slightly.

"Is that so?" he said. "And what exactly were yo

answer, but the flicker of uncertainty in her eyes must have given her aw

sm. "You were going to plant something in one of our o

a step back, but Luca closed the distance effortlessly, his hand darting out to grab her wrist before sh

ded, though her voice lac

dark eyes bored into hers, and she felt as though he coul

said, her voice trembli

expect me to believe that?" he said, his voice low and dangerous. "That

steadier now. "Believe it or not, som

wasn't quite a smile. "And you thought you'd

t heaving as she tried to steady her breathin

m. For a moment, the intensity in his eyes gave way to something else something

it," Lily said, her voice trem

though the word itself were foreign to him. He released her wrist, stepping

self with the boldness of her words. "If you'r

able. Finally, he nodded, his gaze never leaving hers. "Y

d down the hallway again, and Luca's expression darkene

n his eyes the sincerity, the conviction-made her decision for her. With a deep breath