Page 100 of Empire of Temptation

I shrugged and cut a tiny bite of chicken and cheese. “Fine. That just means more for me.”

The first bite was heaven, the second even better. I couldn’t remember the last time I was this happy. Good food, good company.The restaurant was bustling, just like I remembered from my childhood. My mother would be so proud right now.

“I love to see you like this,” Luca said. “You’re practically glowing.”

I didn’t know how to put it into words. “This is what my family intended for the restaurant, to provide a welcoming place for people to gather by serving really good food. And when I was younger we used to be this busy every night. So it’s very gratifying to experience it again, even if it’s only tonight.”

“It won’t only be tonight, bella. I wouldn’t have brought Giovanni here if I didn’t believe in his talent. The reviewers are going to love it and word will spread.”

“I hope so,” I said around a bite of chicken parm.

Over the next thirty minutes Roberto and our server stopped by to check in. But mainly, Luca and I talked over dinner, the conversation flowing easily. Giovanni then came out to personally serve our dessert, which was a hard chocolate ball covering a scoop of pistachio stracciatella gelato. He poured hot espresso over the top, which melted the chocolate onto the gelato. The result was like a sundae flavored with chocolate and coffee. I nearly climaxed when I tasted it.

“Holy shit, this is good,” I muttered as I scooped up another bite. Luca merely watched me, sipping on an espresso, and I couldn’t understand why he wasn’t digging in. “Don’t you want to try it?”

“And miss the little noises you’re making, licking your lips for me? No, you eat it, amore.”

“Stop making everything dirty.”

“I can’t help it when I’m around you. Everything you do makes me want to get you naked.”

Holding his gaze, I lifted the spoon to my lips and slowly slipped it into my mouth. The creamy sweetness hit my tongue and I cleaned the metal dramatically, letting out a little moan to torture him.

Luca put his arm on the back of my chair and angled toward me. My skin broke out in goosebumps as his mouth found my ear. “Unless you want to get fucked in the bathroom, say your goodbyes. I’m taking you home.”

Heat gathered between my legs, an undeniable wave of arousal, and I was fully on board for whatever Luca had in mind. But I wasn’t sure I could leave yet. “Later, baby. I need?—”

“No.” He reached into his pocket and took out a grip of money. I watched, mesmerized, as he peeled off five hundred dollars and dropped it onto the table. “Let’s go,” he said, his jaw tight and hard, his demeanor in full boss mode.

It was probably wise not to test the bathroom threat.

“Okay, but let me say goodbye to the kitchen staff and Roberto. Ten minutes, okay?”

“Five,” he said, his voice deep and almost menacing.

But I wasn’t scared. Far, far from it. There must be something wrong with me, because I suddenly craved all of that aggression and domination focused solely on me.

I pushed away from the table and hurried to the kitchen. As I crossed the dining room, friends and acquaintances offered up their congratulations, so the journey took longer than I anticipated.

Inside, the kitchen was winding down. They were still busy, but not slammed, so I gushed to Giovanni over his food, then gave my sincerest thanks to the entire crew. I apologized for leaving early, but no one seemed to care. Huh. Maybe Luca had been right about that.

My bag was back in the office, so I went to the rear of the kitchen to get it. No way was I leaving a twenty-thousand dollar handbag here overnight. I’d locked it in my desk drawer earlier, terrified someone would steal it.

I unlocked the office door, then removed my bag from the drawer. I left Roberto a note, telling him thank you and that we’d catch up tomorrow. Just as I was leaving, one of the kitchen staff came in from a smoke break in the alley. These were common, so I didn’t think twice about it, until he said, “Miss Valentina? A man was asking for you outside.”

A man? I was instantly on edge. “Who?”

The line cook pointed to the alley behind him. “He said to tell you only if you were alone. It’s your father.”

Every muscle in my body went rigid. My father? Here? What the actual fuck? Why would he come here tonight of all nights?

I hesitated, my mind debating what to do. I wasn’t eager to talk to Flavio Segreto, but I didn’t want him interacting with any of my staff members—or Luca. That could be a total shitshow. No, my father needed to go away and stay gone.

I took a deep breath and stormed out into the alley, ready for battle.

It was dark. Only the light over the door provided any illumination, so I peered into the gloom. “Where are you?” I hissed.

“Over here,” an accented male voice said by the dumpster.

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