Page 59 of Broken Prince

He cocked his head to the side. “I was trying something new… No?”

I shook my head with a startled laugh. “No, definitely not.”

“So, the masquerade? Yes?”

I really wanted to go but I didn't want Luca to think I had a romantic relationship with Dom. It was stupid to even feel concern because Luca hadn’t shown me interest, at least not in a romantic way but…

“Is Luca okay with that?”

Dom smiled brightly as if I’d just asked the most interesting question he’d ever heard. He nodded. “Yes, he said as long as I don't touch what doesn’t belong to me, it’s fine. If not, I’ll lose my hand.”

“What belongs to whom?”

Dom chuckled. “Speaking of Luca, he asked if you could go see him in his office.”

My heart jumped in my chest but I tried to contain my excitement at the thought of him seeking me out. It could be for work, of course, but I was thrilled, no matter what.

I nodded. “Okay, I’ll go now.”

“Don’t run too fast! I wouldn’t want you to slip and fall,” he shouted after me.

I kept on walking but flashed him my middle finger and I walked into the house followed by his raucous laugh…Prick!

I took a deep breath when I reached the second floor and knocked on Luca’s door.

“Come in.”

I opened the door and my stomach twisted when he met my eyes and smiled. I had noticed that it was a nice, soft smile, one he was only giving me.

I couldn’t help but smile back, somehow uncaring that I’d been annoyed with him not even five minutes ago.

“You wanted to see me?”

He pointed to the chair across his desk. “Yes, I wanted to discuss what happened yesterday.”

I nodded and took a seat.

“Matteo Genovese is—” He looked away and scratched at his beard. “He is dangerous, very dangerous.”

He hadn’t looked like it. “He was very good-looking.”

Luca snorted. “He is the type of man to bleed you when he wakes up and has breakfast beside your dead body. I kept you away to protect you—not because I don’t trust you because I do, more than I ever trusted a woman before. I just—” He sighed. “I just want you to know I didn’t want to hurt you.”

“I was not hurt.”Liar.

He opened his drawer and retrieved a long black rectangular box. “I got you that for your birthday but obviously things didn’t go the way I expected, but here you go. Happy belated birthday.”

I didn’t know what was in the box but I had to blink back tears at the intensity of emotions a gift from Luca ignited in me.

“It’s not much,” he added quickly, sliding the box toward me.

I let out a shaky breath, grabbing the box and opening it slowly. Inside I found a silver necklace made of geometrical forms, pentagons and lines, linked together with flowers made of crystal. It was absolutely beautiful and unique.

“I love it…” I whispered, brushing it with my fingers. I looked up. “Thank you so much.”

He looked at me with something so similar to fondness that my heart leaped in my chest again.

“So, ummm, Dom invited me to a masquerade. Is it okay?”

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