5. Luca
Chapter 5
Luca
“ Y ou ready for this?”
Sweat trickled down my forehead as I pounded against the leather bag. “I’m always ready,” I answered to Alessio, my trainer.
After a few more rounds, I let my arms swing to my sides, breathing heavily to regain my composure.
I’d occasionally indulged in the fights that the Underground Club held—a facility exclusive to high-society families. The fights kept the elites satisfied with entertainment and the money it brought in made them wealthier.
For me, it was about the reputation and blowing off steam. I’d never lost and thus created a name for myself. Bets continued to be placed on my victory and I’d never disappointed.
When you instilled fear in others by showing the sheer power of what you were capable of, it was less appealing for them to cross you.
“I don’t need a trainer. ”
My head snapped toward the voice, an itch creeping along my fingertips at the unexpected presence.
I clenched my fists as I found Irina in conversation with another trainer. She had the tightest pair of sportswear on, black leggings that framed her legs perfectly and a tank top that molded against her waist.
I bit the side of my lip, wanting to mark her with more than just my blood on her lips.
Even now I could picture that exact moment from Christmas night. Her blue eyes that shined with anger and red lips that curled with hatred.
She had no idea that her reactions invoked my need to feast on every inch of her. To sink so deep into everything that made her until she forgot where she began and ended.
I would take from my little rebel as long as she played this game. And she was.
I couldn’t pinpoint the reasoning to my sudden fascination with the blonde-haired woman who walked into every room as if she owned it, but the visceral need was there. Tangible enough for me to taste it and feel it coursing through my veins.
And I knew it was there to stay.
But what was her reason? Didn’t she know, her defiance was enough to get me on my knees and crawl to her? I had cut myself to prove that exact point, needing her to understand the depth of how far I’d go to have her.
A spark of sensation ghosted against the side of my neck from where her blade had nicked me. It hadn’t been deep, but it left a light scar that I relished in. I wanted her to mark me.
Since that night, I had wondered why she’d been carrying a weapon, and I intended to seek out that answer on my own.
Removing my gloves, I walked toward her slowly, noting the frustration crossing her face.
“You’re not understanding me. I don’t need a female trainer.” She crossed her arms. “I don’t need a trainer, period.”
A rule the Club’s boxing facility had was that every member needed to be under a trainers list for authentication reasons.
I stood behind Irina, smelling her addicting amber scent as I towered over her. “She’s with me.”
Dante peered over her head, a silent conversation passing between us. I knew this wasn’t allowed, but I also knew he wouldn’t stop me. After a hesitant pause, he nodded his head and walked away.
Irina’s hair slapped my chest as she spun to face me, her blue eyes narrowing. “I’m not with you.”
A grin carved its way across my mouth, and I couldn’t tell if it was from seeing her again or her attitude.
“No?” I cocked my head to the side, feigning confusion. “We’ll have to fix that.”
“You’re delusional,” she hissed, her body shaking as she took a step toward me.
Was that supposed to be threatening?
She was one raging Russian and fuck, I wanted her fury.
I leaned down, watching the rise and fall of her chest before catching her eyes. “Call it what you want, piccola ribelle, but you’ll be mine.”
Her distaste was visible as she bared her teeth, that fire blazing brighter in her pupils. “I will never be yours. Not in this lifetime or the next.”
She turned to walk away, but I grasped her long ponytail, pulling her back toward me.
A gasp escaped her as her back collided into my chest.
She felt so fucking soft against me, I had to refrain myself from pushing further into her.
Didn’t want to scare off my little rebel if I appeared too eager.
I wrapped her silky hair around my fist twice before pulling her head back.
Her full lips parted as she glanced up at me with trepidation. It had my pulse buzzing with renewed energy.
“You’re here for a reason, Irina.” I rasped. “Don’t tell me you’re too scared to see it through.”
And the most beautiful thing happened. She smiled, her straight white teeth appearing slowly.
I was in a daze, mesmerized by her beauty and she used it to her advantage, her next move catching me off guard.
She dropped herself forward as her slender leg pushed back simultaneously and swung toward my face, the force of it knocking me to the ground.
Who the fuck was this woman?
She settled on top of me, her knees on either side of my waist while her elbow dug against my throat. She leaned down and whispered in a lethal tone. “Touch me without my permission again, and it’ll be the last thing you do.”
Heat pulsed in the space between us, the beat of her heart clashing against mine .
“Stay in this position.” I enunciated by squeezing her hips. “And I might adhere to your request.”
When her cheeks hadn’t flushed with color the way I expected, I knew this woman was truly created for me. Walking on earth with the sole purpose to taunt and torment me.
“I’m not sleeping with you, Luca. Get that through your thick skull.”
My name on her tongue was a caress, not gentle like a lover, no. Her voice drove deep into my bones until they splintered and cracked. Until she’d ruined me completely.
Ruin me, sweetheart.
She was stronger than I expected, and I needed that. An equal. But I think my little rebel truly thought she could pin me down.
My hands slid along her waist, her curves molding against my palms as I switched our position, so I was on top of her.
She grunted from the light force as I settled between her legs, pinning her wrists above her head.
“Who said anything about sleeping?”
This close, I could see the dusting of freckles decorating her nose and cheeks. They presented an image of innocence, but she was far from it.
I watched her take shallow breaths, her angelic features turning sharp as she struggled against my hold. The more she moved, the more her scent invaded my senses. It filled me with pure dopamine.
Did she know how breathtaking she was?
My expression must’ve conveyed something that had her stilling and time ceased to exist for a moment as we locked eyes.
It ended too soon as she blinked a few times, her brows lowering before her head shot up, ramming into my nose, and causing me to loosen my hold.
She slid out from underneath me and all I could do was laugh as blood gushed from my nose.
No one had ever caught me off guard and I always had a strong intuition so the fact that Irina had done it twice in the span of minutes was beyond my understanding.
Maybe this was a sign to stay away from her but the mere thought of doing that sent a dull ache between my ribs.
“Stay away from me, you brute.” She grabbed her bag and walked off in a huff to the building’s exit.
I let my head fall back against the floor, smiling to myself as blood continued to trickle down my nose.
And I didn’t know if it made me a masochist, but I’d let her do it again.
She was definitely made for me.
I’d almost forgotten that I needed to give a shit about being the leader of the Camorra until this morning.
I crushed the cigarette under my boot, waiting for the Bratva’s exporter.
After my father sabotaged the previous shipment, Roman handed off the entire operation to me.
Doing business with the Russians was always risky, but it had more benefits than not. And it’d establish a good rapport with my crew, even though they were loyal to my father but that was okay, I didn’t trust them either. I only needed to cement into their brains that I was the one who they answered to.
A black van pulled up to the side of the warehouse and parked before a lean man stepped out.
He was alone which was surprising. We’d discussed to keep this one on one, but I didn’t think he’d comply.
“Viktor.” I acknowledged him with a head nod.
He was a cold man; I could tell with the way he carried himself as if every movement and reaction was mechanical. His brown hair was a contrast against his pale skin which added to the sharpness of his demeanor.
I shoved my hand into my leather jacket, pulling out another stick of death. “How long do you plan on staying in Italy, Viktor?” I asked, sticking the cigarette in my mouth.
He widened his stance, clasping his hands behind his back. “Until I’m certain we can trust the production of our partnership.”
Releasing a puff of smoke, I walked toward him. It was understandable that he’d want to make sure there were no glitches in our exchanges, but I hated having a stranger in my territory.
“You understand that I’ll have eyes on you?”
He smiled or what appeared to be one. It was stiff and crooked. “I don’t doubt it.”
I’d dealt with Russians before and I knew that they were hardheaded with a penchant for blood but as I eyed Viktor, an unpleasant taste settled on my tongue from his demeanor .
Yeah, I was keeping an eye on this fucker, alright.
I spread my arms wide, gesturing around us as I let a grin creep on my face. “Welcome to Italy.” I patted his shoulder on my way out. “Don’t get comfortable,” I added sternly.
When I reached my bike, I texted Ric to send me a file on Viktor Morozov.