The moment the words "They want her" left Enzo's mouth, something in me shifted.
Not fear.Not anger.
Something darker.
They wanted Elena.
They dared.
And now, as she stood trembling against the wall, watching me with wide, uncertain eyes, jealousy tightened around my ribs like a steel fist.
Not the jealousy of a lover.
The jealousy of a king whose throne had been threatened.
"Elena," I said softly, stepping back toward her, "tell me exactly what you told Marcus tonight."
She blinked. "Why does that matter?"
"Because he thinks he can protect you. Because he thinks he can give you attention that belongs to me."I paused, voice dropping."And because you were smiling at him."
Her lips parted. "I wasn't—"
"You were."
Her breath caught.I didn't shout.I didn't break anything.
But the air thickened with a violent calm that even she felt.
She pressed her back against the wall. "Luca… I wasn't smiling at him. I was—"
"Nervous."I stepped closer."Uncomfortable."Another step."Wishing you weren't there."
Her eyes widened."How do you even know that?"
"Because I know your real smile," I murmured, curling a finger beneath her chin."And what you gave him wasn't it."
Her inhale was sharp.She hated how much I saw.
"Why does it bother you?" she whispered."Why does him standing next to me make you react like this?"
I leaned my forehead against hers.
"Because I know the way men look at you," I said quietly."I know what they're thinking. And I know exactly what they would do if I wasn't in the picture."
She swallowed. "You're jealous."
I smiled dangerously.
"No," I whispered."I'm territorial."
She shivered.
I traced my thumb along her jaw, watching her knees weaken under my touch."Elena… did you like the way he looked at you?"
Her breath trembled. "Luca—"
"Answer."
She closed her eyes for a moment. "No."
I grazed her cheek with the back of my fingers. "Then why did you let him touch you?"
"I didn't let him—"
"He put his hand on your arm."
"He thought I was in danger!"
"And you think that makes it acceptable?"
She stared at me."Luca, it meant nothing."
But I wasn't listening anymore.Rage burned through me again, coiled deep and vicious.
Because I could still see it.His fingers around her arm.Her letting herself be led away—by someone who wasn't me.
"Elena," I said, voice colder now, "you think because it meant nothing, it means nothing to me."
"It shouldn't."
"It does."
She looked stunned.
"You can't—"Her voice cracked."You can't be jealous of everyone who looks at me."
"You're wrong."My hand slid to her waist."I can. And I am."
Her breath froze.
"Elena," I said quietly, "you're not invisible. Men notice you. Men want you."
She looked down. "That's not my fault."
"No," I whispered, lifting her chin again."It's mine."
She blinked, confusion flashing.
I smirked slightly."I should've kept you closer."
Her pulse jumped visibly at her throat.
"You think a man like Marcus can protect you?" I asked, stepping so close our bodies nearly touched."You think he understands you the way I do?"
"You don't own me," she whispered, but the tremble in her voice gave her away.
My voice turned velvet-dark."If I don't own you, Elena… why are you shaking for me right now?"
Her breath hitched.
"Why do you look at me like I'm the only one in the room?"I brushed a strand of hair from her face."Why do you listen when I speak, even when you pretend not to?"
She closed her eyes tightly.
"Elena," I whispered, "open your eyes."
She did.
And the heat in them—confusion, want, fear—tightened something in my chest.
"Tell me," I murmured, "did you think about me while you were with him?"
Her lips parted in shock. "Luca—"
"Did you?"My tone was quiet.Dangerous.Demanding.
She shook her head helplessly."That's not fair."
"Life isn't fair."I leaned in closer."Did you think about me?"
Her silence was my answer.
A smile ghosted across my lips.
"Elena…"My voice roughened, my control fracturing."You shouldn't give other men pieces of attention that belong to me."
Her eyes widened. "You don't get to say that."
"I do."My hand cupped the side of her neck."Because no man alive can look at you without wanting a piece of you. And I'm the only one who has the right."
Her breaths quickened.Heat rolled off her in waves.
"Luca…" Her voice cracked. "This is too much."
I stepped back half an inch—enough for her to breathe, not enough for her to escape.
"You can pretend you hate this," I said."You can pretend you hate me."I tilted my head."But the moment you saw me tonight, you forgot he existed."
Her breath stopped.
"One look," I continued softly."That's all it took to pull you back."
Her fingers flexed against the wall, betraying her.
"Elena," I murmured, "you're jealous too."
Her eyes snapped up, furious and hot."I am not."
"You are."I brushed her lips with my thumb."You hated seeing me with other women."
"That was… a long time ago."
"Not long enough."
Her jaw tightened, her nostrils flaring.
"You don't know what I felt."
"Yes," I breathed, "I do."
She froze.
"Because when I talked to them?"I stepped closer again."You looked at me like your world was sinking."
"That's not true—"
"Elena," I whispered, "you're mine. And deep down, you know it."
Her breath caught.
"You can lie with words," I murmured, "but your body never lies to me."
A soft knock cut through the tension.
"Boss?" Enzo called from the hallway.
I exhaled sharply, frustrated.Twice now he had interrupted moments I wasn't ready to end.
"What?"
"There's another message from Moretti."
Elena stiffened.
I opened the door a crack, glaring. "Speak."
"They want to meet tomorrow night."
I laughed—low, dangerous. "Of course they do."
"And… they asked if you're bringing her."
Elena's hand flew to her mouth."What?" she whispered.
Enzo nodded. "They said she's 'requested.'"
Requested.
My blood turned to ice.
I shut the door, turning back to her.She shook her head slowly, fear flooding her features.
"They want you there," I said.
"Why?" she whispered.
"Because they think they can take you from me."My voice hardened, reverberating through the room."And they think I'll allow it."
Her breath hitched. "Luca…"
I walked toward her, each step deliberate, radiating a promise of violence.
"Elena, you listen to me."I cupped her face gently—but my voice was anything but gentle."You're not going anywhere near them."
"But—"
"No."My hands slid to her waist, pulling her closer."You will stay with me. You will not talk to them. You will not be seen by them."I leaned down, breathing her in."And you will not give another man a reason to think he has a chance."
She trembled. "Luca… you're being unreasonable."
"Jealous," I corrected."Not unreasonable."
Her lips parted.
I leaned closer, my breath brushing her skin.
"Elena…"I paused, letting the words burn between us."You don't have to be mine."
Her eyes widened.
"But I will never—"My thumb traced her lower lip."—let you be anyone else's."
Her breath broke.
And she knew—she absolutely knew—he meant every word.