Page 48 of His Ruthless Claim

I watch Luca through the gallery windows, his rigid posture radiating controlled power even during a simple phone call. He catches me looking and his eyes darken with heat.

"Maybe I like being possessed," I murmur, making Jazz choke on her champagne.

When he comes back in, I slide my hands up his chest and smile. He wraps an arm around my waist, dipping his head to whisper in my ear. "I need to go home to meet with the guys."

I know now there are only four guys he trusts to even let into our home.

I nod. "Then let's go."

I say goodbye to everyone as he has the car brought around. When I come out, he settles me in the car, and I bite back a grin as he leans in to buckle me in. Everything about him excites me now.

The drive home passes in comfortable silence, Luca's hand resting possessively on my thigh. When we arrive, he surprises me by catching my wrist as I move toward the stairs.

"Come to my office." His ice-blue eyes hold mine. "Stay with me during the meeting."

I arch an eyebrow. "You sure? Isn't it supposed to be all secret mob business?"

His thumb traces circles on my pulse point. "You're mine. That makes you part of it."

I should argue that I'm his. But I don't.

The office door opens to reveal his inner circle already assembled. Bas lounges in a leather chair, dark eyes alert despite his relaxed posture. Mickey paces by the window, while Carmine and Ace hover near the desk, examining papers spread across the surface.

Luca settles into his chair, pulling me into his lap like it's the most natural thing in the world. I curl against him, breathing in his cool mint scent as his arm wraps around my waist.

"The Rossis made their move," Bas says, watching us with knowing eyes. "Three warehouses hit last night."

"Sloppy work," Mickey adds, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "Left evidence everywhere."

"Begs the question if they are trying to distract rather than do damage."

Luca's fingers stroke up and down my spine as he listens, the gentle touch at odds with the coldness in his voice. "Show me the locations."

Carmine spreads a map across the desk. Red marks dot the paper like bloodstains. As they discuss strategy, Luca's hand never stops its rhythmic caress of my back. The constant contact feels possessive, grounding.

"We could take the docks," Ace suggests, pointing to the harbor. "Cut off their supply line."

"Too obvious." Luca's chest rumbles against my side as he speaks. "We'll hit their legitimate businesses first. Bleed them slowly."

I study the way his men defer to him, their respect evident in every gesture. There's no hesitation about my presence, no sideways glances or tension. I've been accepted into their dark little family, marked as untouchable by Luca's claim on me.

His fingers tangle in my hair as they discuss surveillance details, the gentle tugs sending shivers down my spine. Even deep in strategy, he needs this connection, this reminder that I'm here, that I'm his.

After the guys filter out, I stay curled in Luca's lap, his fingers still tracing patterns on my spine. The office feels different now - quieter, more intimate. His ice-blue eyes stare into the middle distance, mind clearly churning with plans. Of what's coming tomorrow.

"It's admirable," I say softly, "how far you're going to find Maria."

His jaw tightens. "Family is important."

The words tumble out before I can stop them. "Is that why you killed your father?"

His hand stills on my back. For a moment, the silence stretches razor-thin. Then he shrugs, the movement casual despite the darkness in his eyes. "He was unfit to lead. A drunk bastard who couldn't handle his position."

I trace the sharp line of his jaw with my fingertips. "There's more to it than that." Not that I'm defending him. I just…want to know Luca's side.

Luca catches my wrist, thumb pressing against my pulse point. His voice comes out flat, emotionless. "I was eight when my mother died. Car accident. We were driving home from school when someone forced us off the road."

My breath catches as his grip tightens fractionally.

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