Page 25 of Ivory Crown

“I worry about him,” I confessed to Luca, running a hand through my hair. “He’s not careful enough.”

“He’s a Moretti,” Luca stated matter-of-factly. “He knows what’s at stake.”

“I think keeping a secret this big from your father might not be the greatest idea,” Luca said.

“Neither is a war with Caruso,” I countered bluntly. “We’re stuck between a rock and a hard place here, Luca. One wrong move and it could all blow up in our faces.”

Luca nodded, understanding etched into the lines of his face. “So, what’s the plan?”

“I’m not sure,” I said. “But there’s something else I need to talk to you about.”

He cocked his head, confused. “Boss?”

“Sit,” I said, pointing to one of the leather chairs opposite my desk. As Luca did so, I leaned against the cold surface of my mahogany desk, crossing my arms. “I’ve been watching the cameras. Jade ordered food delivery earlier this week.”

Luca’s brows pulled together in bewilderment. “And?”

“And she found the secret door that leads to the access elevator,” I finished flatly, watching his reaction closely.

“Are you...are we keeping her here prisoner?” Luca’s tone wavered between disbelief and a dawning understanding.

“Jade stays until Lorenzo Caruso is no longer a problem,” I stated unequivocally, my jaw setting firm.

“Understood.” Luca nodded slowly, processing the gravity of the situation. “And what do you need from me?”

“Any time I’m not here, you’re on Jade duty. You keep her safe, you keep her here. No exceptions,” I instructed, locking eyes with him to cement the importance of my words.

“Of course,” Luca replied, his voice devoid of hesitation.

“Then you can leave,” I said, giving him a nod that carried the heavy weight of trust I was placing on his shoulders. He understood the unspoken rule—protect her as if she were family.

The moment the door clicked shut behind Luca, I turned and made my way back to the bedroom where Jade rested. The soft light from the bedside lamp cast a warm glow on her peaceful face. She looked serene, almost angelic, but I wasn’t fooled. There was a subtle tightness around her eyes, a telltale sign she wasn’t truly lost in slumber.

I stood there for a moment, watching her feigned sleep, wondering what thoughts churned beneath that beautiful facade. Shaking off the musings, I stripped down to my boxers with quiet movements, acutely aware of every rustle of fabric, every whisper of movement that might betray my presence.

Sliding into bed beside her, I was careful not to jar the mattress too much. Her warmth radiated towards me like a beacon, inviting yet untouchable. Slowly, I edged closer, allowing myself the simple pleasure of her proximity. I pulled her gently into my arms, taking care not to wake her, though part of me hoped she would stir so I could look into those steely eyes again.

She remained still, but the slight shift in her breathing told me she was aware. Aware of me, of our closeness, of the delicate dance we had begun. I closed my eyes, resigning myself to the pretense of sleep, even as every fiber of my being was acutely attuned to her.

“Hey,” I said into her ear. “Hope we didn’t wake you up. Just had some business to attend to.”

Her eyes opened. “Everything okay?”

“Sure,” I said, holding her tight. “Everything is going to be just fine.”

Chapter Eleven: Jade

This captivity wasn’t helping me with my headaches.

I paced, back and forth, the click of my shoes a steady drumbeat on the marble. Dante’s penthouse, all grandeur and space, felt more like a gilded cage with each step I took. Through the windows, the city sprawled below, lights flickering like distant stars I couldn’t touch. My fingertips grazed the glass, cold and unyielding; it might as well have been iron bars.

“Enough,” I muttered, my voice a low growl of frustration. The whole day, I’d been dodging Dante, keeping to corners of his palatial trap while he was out. Playing hide-and-seek with the devil in his own den wasn’t working anymore. It was time to face the music.

I stopped dead in the doorway of his office, my resolve hardening like the ice in my veins. “I’m going stir crazy,” I announced, the words slicing through the silence like a blade. My hands clenched into fists at my sides, nails digging into my palms—anything to anchor me against the dizzying need to escape these walls.

He didn’t even look up when he heard me.

“The doctor said I need it, Dante. I need to get out of here.” My voice was steady, bolder than I felt, but desperation has a way of cutting through fear.

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