Chapter 6 - Midnight in the Penthouse
By midnight, the storm outside had broken, sending sheets of rain lashing against the glass walls of the penthouse. Inside, the only light came from the city lights reflecting off the wet pavement far below and the amber glow of a single desk lamp in the library.
Mara rubbed her eyes, exhaustion finally catching up with her adrenaline-fueled focus.
“Go to bed, Mara,” Luca instructed, standing up from his chair. “Holloway isn't going anywhere. We address the board at nine o'clock tomorrow morning.”
“I can’t sleep,” she admitted softly, standing up as well. Her legs felt heavy, the stress of the day finally taking its physical toll. As she turned toward the hallway, a sudden wave of dizziness made her sway.
Before she hit the floor, Luca’s arms were around her.
He caught her effortlessly, pulling her firm, soft body flush against his chest with a protective instinct so primal it defied every rule of professionalism they had ever established.
Mara gasped, her hands resting flat against the crisp fabric of his shirt, feeling the steady, powerful thud of his heart beneath her palms.
“I’ve got you,” Luca whispered against her hair.
“I’m just... tired,” she murmured, closing her eyes, letting herself lean into his strength for just a moment. Just one moment.
Luca didn't let go. Instead, he scooped her up into his arms, carrying her effortlessly down the dimly lit hallway toward the west guest suite. Mara’s arms instinctively wrapped around his neck, her breath catching as she looked up at his chiseled profile, the sharp line of his jaw, and the dark, smoldering intensity in his eyes.
He laid her down gently on the king-sized bed, pulling the duvet over her shoulders. But as he started to pull away, Mara’s hand reached out, her fingers catching the cuff of his shirt.
“Don't go,” she whispered, the words slipping out before her rational mind could stop them.
Luca froze. He looked down at her—at the pale bruise fading beneath her makeup, at the soft curve of her lips, at the naked vulnerability in her dark eyes.
He didn't hesitate.
He kicked off his shoes, slid onto the mattress beside her, and pulled her into his arms. Mara buried her face against his chest, listening to the steady, anchoring rhythm of his heartbeat as the rain fell outside the glass.
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In the heart of the empire he had built on blood, power, and absolute control, the most dangerous thing Luca Vale had ever done was let someone in.
And for the first time in his life, he didn't want to push them away.
