chapter 18: Forbidden Feelings

The mansion felt different after everything that had happened. Anna wasn't sure if it was her perspective that had changed or if there was truly something different in the way Luca acted around her. Ever since the night he saved her from Antonio, his gaze lingered on her longer than before, and there was something unreadable in his expression whenever their eyes met. It wasn't just control anymore. It wasn't just a game of dominance. It was something more complicated, something Anna didn't dare name.

She tried to ignore it, tried to focus on anything else. She spent her days keeping busy—learning about Luca's operations, speaking with Isabelle, avoiding Antonio like the plague. But no matter how much she distracted herself, she couldn't escape the thoughts creeping into her mind late at night.

Luca had saved her.

Luca had defended her.

Luca had looked at her with something that wasn't just possession—but something deeper.

And the worst part? A part of her didn't hate it.

That was dangerous.

She had spent weeks convincing herself that he was nothing more than a monster, that everything he did had a hidden agenda, that he was incapable of anything other than cruelty. But then he had proven her wrong. He had shown her a different side—one that made her heart race in a way she didn't understand.

Sitting on the balcony outside her room, she stared at the dark sky, hugging her knees to her chest. She hated herself for letting him get into her head, for letting her body react to his presence, for thinking of him when she should have been plotting an escape. But there was no denying it anymore.

Something was changing.

And she wasn't sure she was ready for it.

The next morning, she was still lost in thought when Marco found her in the library. "Luca wants to see you in his office."

Her heart skipped a beat. She took a steadying breath before following him.

When she stepped inside, Luca was seated behind his desk, his sharp eyes locked onto her the moment she entered. He didn't say anything at first, just let his gaze drag over her like he was studying every inch of her. It sent an uncomfortable shiver down her spine.

"You're coming with me tonight," he finally said.

She frowned. "Where?"

"A business meeting."

Anna hesitated. "I thought I wasn't allowed to leave."

Luca smirked, leaning back in his chair. "You're not. Not alone."

Her stomach twisted at the implication. The idea of stepping outside the mansion, even if it was with him, sent a thrill of excitement through her. But the idea of being around Luca for that long, in close quarters, with nowhere to escape… that was an entirely different kind of danger.

"I don't see why I need to be there."

He didn't break eye contact. "Because I said so."

She crossed her arms. "That's not a real reason."

His smirk deepened. "It is when it comes from me."

She hated that her breath caught slightly at the way his voice dropped.

That night, Luca sent a dress to her room—a sleek, black silk gown that clung to her body in a way that made her self-conscious. It was elegant, beautiful… and completely unlike anything she usually wore.

When she descended the stairs, she felt Luca's eyes on her before she even looked at him. He was standing at the bottom, dressed in his usual dark suit, his expression unreadable.

His gaze dragged over her, slow and assessing. "Not bad."

Anna rolled her eyes, stepping past him. "Don't get used to it."

The drive to the meeting was quiet at first, the tension between them thick and suffocating. Anna tried to focus on the city lights flashing past the window, but she was painfully aware of Luca beside her—of the way his fingers drummed against his knee, of the heat of his body so close to hers.

"You're nervous," he said after a while.

"I'm not."

He smirked, clearly not believing her.

The meeting took place in an exclusive lounge, where Luca was set to negotiate with a businessman who had ties to both the mafia and corrupt politicians. Anna sat beside him, observing everything, listening to the way Luca controlled the conversation with ease. He was calculating, smooth, and completely in control.

At one point, the businessman turned to her. "And what exactly is your role in all of this?"

Anna hesitated.

Luca didn't answer for her. He simply leaned back, watching.

And so, she forced herself to recall the things she had learned from Marco, from eavesdropping on conversations, from being trapped in this world long enough to understand it. She answered with quiet confidence, careful not to reveal too much, but saying just enough to hold her ground.

Luca said nothing when she finished. But when the meeting ended, and they were walking back to the car, he finally spoke.

"You did well."

Anna glanced at him. "Are you surprised?"

Luca chuckled. "Not anymore."

Their eyes met, and for a moment, neither of them moved. Neither of them spoke.

And that was more dangerous than anything else.

When they returned to the mansion, Anna turned to head toward her room, but before she could take a step, Luca grabbed her wrist, stopping her.

Her breath caught.

The air between them thickened.

"This is a mistake," she whispered.

Luca's grip tightened slightly. "Probably."

Yet neither of them moved away.

For the first time, Anna wasn't sure who was playing with fire—him or her.