Chapter 25
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Serena
L ucca came alive in the late afternoon, its narrow cobblestone streets humming with activity. The medieval walls that once protected the city now enclosed a world of old charm, where history lingered in the worn bricks and flower-draped balconies.
The scent of espresso and freshly baked bread drifted from cafés, mingling with the distant notes of a street musician playing an old Italian love song on a violin. It was the kind of place that made you want to slow down, breathe deeply, and get lost in the romance of it all.
Anton walked beside me, his stride easy and confident. He seemed to belong in a place like this, even with his quiet luxury and sophistication. He fit against this backdrop just as easily as he did in a penthouse suite or the halls of a museum. It was as if the world and everything in it had been built to accommodate him .
And yet, despite his polished appearance, there was something undeniably predatory about him. He was like a wolf playing civilized for the afternoon, never forgetting what he truly was beneath the suit and charm. He might travel with a bodyguard, but Anton was an intimidating force all by himself.
I glanced at Zeke following closely behind us. Tall and broad-shouldered, he had the presence of a man who knew he was the most dangerous thing in the room. He was dressed casually enough—a dark shirt and tailored slacks—but there was no mistaking what he was. His sharp eyes never stopped scanning, tracking every person who passed, and assessing every potential threat no matter how harmless they might have seemed.
I wasn’t sure what to think about his looming presence, so I did my best to ignore it.
We turned onto a quieter street lined with boutique shops and art galleries. We wandered with no agenda in mind. I pointed out famous landmarks, telling him the history of Lucca and its well-preserved city walls. I was so familiar with the town that I barely noticed the everyday things like the olive oil displays in the store windows or the hand-stitched Italian leather stands on the streets. But Anton noted everything, and I was enjoying seeing things through the eyes of a newcomer.
When he stopped abruptly, I turned and asked, “What is it?”
He pulled me toward a small jewelry shop, its window filled with delicate, handcrafted Italian necklaces and earrings.
“That necklace,” he said and pointed to a simple ruby heart on a thin gold chain. The deep red stone seemed to flicker in the late afternoon sun. It wasn’t large or flashy, yet it still demanded attention. “It reminds me of the ruby you wore at the Met Gala. Do you still have it?”
I shook my head. “No, I sent it back to Madeleine as soon as I returned to Italy.”
He turned, his gaze lingering on me, his expression unreadable .
“That’s a shame. It suited you.”
I looked back at the ruby heart again and shrugged.
“I’ve never been much into jewelry.”
Reaching up, he traced a line along my collarbone. My core tightened, and I sucked in a sharp breath, once again surprised by my instant reaction to him.
“This necklace makes me think of the first time I saw you—and the first time I fucked you. You were wearing a ruby around your neck, and nothing else.” The quiet way he gave voice to the memory made my pulse stutter. “This neck was made for jewels, princess. And I’m going to give them to you.”
“Anton, I don’t really need—” I paused when a flicker of movement caught my eye in the reflection of the jewelry store window. Zeke stood a few feet away, watchful as always. I shifted my attention back to Anton, ready to continue my protest, but he had already slipped inside the store. “Oh, for crying out loud.”
I shook my head, then entered the store. He’d already done enough for me. The last thing he needed to do was buy me jewelry. I had no use for such frivolity.
I caught up to him just as he was speaking to the shop owner, an older man with sharp, perceptive eyes. The exchange between them was brief, but Anton’s decisive tone left no room for negotiation.
“Ah, signore ,” the shopkeeper said, nodding appreciatively as he retrieved the necklace from its velvet display. “An excellent choice. A piece like this—it speaks. Understated, but full of fire. Like your bella donna, sì ?”
Anton’s lips curved slightly. “Exactly.”
“Anton,” I hissed, reaching for his arm. “You don’t have to buy me that.”
His head turned slowly, his eyes pinning me in place. “I know.”
“Then don’t.” I kept my voice low, aware of the shopkeeper’s keen gaze and the few other customers browsing nearby. “I don’t need jewelry. I don’t even wear jewelry.”
The older man let out a low chuckle as he set the necklace onto a velvet tray. “Ah, but that is because no one has given you the right jewelry before.”
Anton smirked. “She’s just being stubborn.”
“She is a woman,” the shopkeeper said with a shrug. “But a man who knows what he wants? He does not hesitate.”
I scowled at his presumptiveness and glanced down at the necklace on the tray. The price tag was plainly visible, and I nearly choked at the cost. I was pretty sure that amount was enough to feed a small village for a day. I quickly looked back up at Anton, not bothering to hide my shock.
Something dark flickered in his expression. “It’s my money to spend, and I want you to have this.”
I shook my head. “I can’t accept.”
His jaw tightened, his mouth hardening into a firm line. “Yes, you will.”
“You don’t get to order me around. Just because you have money doesn’t mean you should be so frivolous with it.”
“Serena.” His commanding voice made me stop short. Taking my arm, he steered me away from the counter and whispered, “You don’t know a damn thing about me or my past to make any sort of judgement about what I should or shouldn’t do with my money.”
I blinked, surprised by his words. “That’s only because you haven’t wanted to share it with me.”
“I came from the streets,” he continued, his gaze dark and unrelenting. The shift in his tone froze me in place. “No money. No power. All I ever had were the clothes on my back. Now I have more money than I know what do with, and nobody to spend it on. So, if I want to buy something for you, I expect you to accept the gift without arguing.”
My eyes widened. The gravity in his voice had caught me off guard. I had never heard him talk about his life before finding wealth. He’d only allowed glimpses into that part of himself—and it was limited at best. Now, all I wanted was to know more.
“I’m sorry, Anton. I don’t mean to sound ungrateful.”
The shopkeeper, seemingly unaffected by the charged moment between us, spoke up. “Would the lady like to try it on?”
Anton met my gaze, the intensity there making my breath hitch. “Yes, she would.”
“Ah, you see? A man with means does not ask permission to cherish a woman. He simply does it.” The shopkeeper slid the necklace toward him. “Go on, signore . See how it looks on her.”
Anton didn’t hesitate. He lifted the delicate gold chain, stepping behind me and brushing my hair to the side. The deliberate way his fingers grazed my skin sent heat curling low in my stomach.
I exhaled as the clasp clicked into place, feeling the weight of both the necklace and Anton’s unwavering stare. I looked at our reflection in the mirror behind the glass display case. The ruby heart rested just below the hollow of my throat, its deep crimson catching the warm lighting in the store.
It wasn’t an extravagant piece, and it was significantly smaller than the heavy ruby I’d worn to the Met Gala. But none of that mattered when I caught the way Anton was looking at me—and not the necklace. The desire in his gaze made me feel like the rarest jewel in existence. I’d never had a man look at me the way he was at that moment. It was unnerving.
“Perfect,” the shopkeeper murmured with approval.
Anton’s fingertips traced the pendant.
“Yes,” he agreed, his voice a husky whisper. “It is.”
“I—” My voice caught. I had no idea what to say.
“Do you like it?” he asked, and I detected a challenge beneath the question.
I could have told him again that it was unnecessary—that I had no need for gifts. Or that the last thing I wanted was to be kept. But the truth was, I did like it. Maybe too much.
So instead, I nodded. “It’s beautiful.”
A satisfied hum rumbled in his chest. “Good.”
I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry as Anton moved behind me, his fingers grazing the sensitive skin at the nape of my neck as he unfastened the delicate chain. A slow shiver worked its way down my spine.
After placing the necklace back on the tray, he stepped away and reached for his wallet.
“Anton,” I tried again, still uncomfortable with such an extravagant gift. But the words died in my throat as he handed his black card to the shop owner. He took it with a deferential nod, moving swiftly to process the payment.
“It’s done, Serena,” Anton said smoothly, slipping his wallet back into his jacket. “No point in arguing about it now.”
The transaction wrapped up quickly, and before I knew it, I had a gift bag in hand as Anton led me back onto the sunlit streets of Lucca. Zeke was waiting outside. He was trying—and failing—to be subtle.
I sighed, wondering if he would always be with us. “Does Zeke follow you everywhere?”
Anton’s lips twitched. “That’s kind of his job, princess.”
“I know, but…” I let out a frustrated breath. “I guess I’m just not used to having someone watch me all the time.”
“I trust Zeke with my life. You’ll get used to it.”
I wasn’t sure I wanted to, but I didn’t admit that part out loud. As Anton reached down to thread his fingers through mine, it seemed like the most natural thing in the world. Maybe—just maybe—there were some things I wouldn’t mind getting used to.
That thought scared me. This thing between us was dangerous. Immediate. Real.
And if I wasn’t careful, I could fall for him far too easily .
Don’t be foolish. This is a business arrangement. Nothing more.
“We’re getting gelato,” Anton announced after we passed a group of teenagers licking the frozen treat from tiny spoons.
I arched a brow. “Are we?”
His lips twitched. “Yes. You look like you need something sweet after all that unnecessary protesting.”
“Fine,” I relented. “I happen to know just the place. But I’m paying.”