4. Ara
The doorman, Gregory, opens the cab door for me. I politely thank him, which is the extent of our conversation as always, and I peer up at my apartment building. Only the wealthy can afford this place. It’s mostly businessmen and women and a few celebrities. I chose this building specifically for its security—and because most people expect Alexander Barone’s daughter to have similar lavish tastes.
Between last night, a full day at the office, and tonight’s event, the week is already catching up to me. I rest the back of my head against the wall in the elevator and close my eyes momentarily until I reach level twenty-three, the second-to-last floor.
As soon as I close my eyes, it’s the same thing. A harsh set of blue eyes. Sharp jaw and cheekbones. Lines marring his forehead as he assesses me. The gun to my head. I let out a breath at the same time the doors open. Death isn’t something I fear. I’ve already met and beat it once. I shake off the moment as best as I can.
I walk out of the elevator and down the hallway. There are only four apartments on this floor, and my three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment is the farthest away from the elevator. I swipe my gold key card, expelling a tired sigh as I throw my bag onto the counter.
“Lights on,” I instruct. The moment my voice is recognized, they turn on. I take out the tie binding my hair. It loosens into strands around my face, relieving my scalp. I pause expectantly. “Tuna?” I call out. The black-and-white stray cat I rescued out of a cardboard box four months ago isn’t anywhere to be seen. My eyebrows furrow. Goosebumps erupt over my skin when I notice it, the subtle chill in the air. The instinctual feeling something is amiss.
I look around my apartment. The eight-seater wooden table to my left. The island and kitchen to my right. My entertainment area with floor to ceiling windows is only a few steps away. But it feels different.
Silently, I walk around to my top drawer in the kitchen and pull out a knife. My bedroom is down the hall on the right. I peer into it but can’t see anyone. Quietly, I take steps toward the two rooms on the left. One of the rooms is an office. The door is always open, and when I peer in…no one and nothing. Not even Tuna.
My heart speeds up; there’s only one other room in this apartment. One no one else has access to but me. I grind my teeth as I realize the door is ever so slightly ajar. A cold foreboding chill runs down my spine. No, this room is heavily secure with a passcode and pin. Fuck. My grip tightens on the knife.
There’s no way to inconspicuously step inside, but I do my best to steady my breathing.
“It’s rather creepy just standing at the door, wouldn’t you say?” the voice calls out to me, and I feel the blood drain from my face. I know that voice. I’m familiar with the lethal arrogance.
I creak the door open as my gaze swallows the room. Photos are pinned to the wall everywhere. Some of his brother. His bodyguards. Photos of his apartment and the family mansion. Business dealings. Articles. Dating history, which was minimal. But mostly him. My greatest lead.
Luca Armani.
Everything and anything to know about Luca Armani is in this room.
I carefully curated every piece. I know him inside and out thanks to all the time spent researching him.
But knowing him and breathing the same air as him?
That’s something entirely different now that he’s standing in the very same room.
“I suppose I underestimated you, little stalker,” he says matter-of-fact as he flicks through one of my files. I still have the knife held in his direction but even I don’t know what it would do against Luca. The events from last night resurface. I’ve been exposed.
“Even down to my food preferences. I’m flattered. However, you should know seafood is no longer at the top,” he adds.
“Because you got food poisoning from it on the twenty-third of August last year. You had the chef killed the very same day.” I offer a feral smile. “I know.” There was no point in saving face anymore. He knew the ugliest version of me. “How did you get into this building? I specifically chose this building because of the security.”
“Oh, I bet,” he says with calm cruelty. He throws the folder onto the table, the slapping noise it makes echoing through the room until his cutting blue gaze narrows on me. “I own the building.”
“That can’t be right.” I know he doesn’t because I know everything about Luca Armani, including what he does and does not own.
“As of one hour ago. I do.”
Fuck. This is bad. I’ve never been caught. Never had my prey come to me. Not until I wanted them to, anyway.
Meow.
My gaze darts to Tuna who yawns lazily and begins to rub himself against Luca. My gaze flicks from the cat to him.
“Don’t worry. Killing animals is not my thing. One of my men, on the other hand…” He taps a finger against his lips. “Oh, wait you probably already know that.”
My jaw is clenching so hard I feel searing pain. It’s only us in here, but what can I do? Stab him to death?
He takes nonchalant steps toward me, his hands in his pockets. “What are you going to do, little stalker? Stab me to death? Surely, you know well enough knives are my favorite playthings.”
He steps into the point of the blade, his heart directly beneath it, with an arrogant cocky smile. My heart falters. Because in all the photos I’ve taken of Luca, he was not smiling. He is cruel and calculating. A monster unmasked. Suddenly, I am reminded of the taste of fear. I swallow it as he leans in, and I’m unable to move under his gaze. It’s like last night all over again. His piercing gaze is as good as a vice.
“Did you think you would get away with last night?” he asks, his piercing blue eyes watching me—studying me the same way I’ve been studying him. “Did you think I didn’t recognize you tonight? I must confess, I much prefer the black hair.” He lifts a tendril. “Perhaps we should follow up with where we were interrupted last night?”
His breath is a hot flush against my cheek, and his presence overpowering. I grit my teeth harder, freeing myself from my stupor. I will not be scared of this man, even if he is my undoing. “What do you want?”