Sienna Cross hadn't set foot in Chicago for three years. Three years since they buried her brother and for those three years she vowed to destroy the man responsible—Luca Marchetti.
Now standing outside Marchetti Tower, her heart pounded with anticipation and rage.
Today, she will meet him face-to-face.
The man who sent Danny to prison to die.
"Miss Cross?" A voice pulled her from her thoughts.
Marco Santoro, Luca's underboss. The man who"hired" her to spy on his boss—though he had no idea she was Danny Castellano's sister.
"Ready?" Marco asked.
"Absolutely." she answered.
The elevator ride felt endless. Then the doors finally opened to the penthouse, as Sienna let out a long breath.
Luca Marchetti stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, backlit by the Chicago skyline. Tall–at least six-two. Broad shoulders in a perfectly tailored suit.
His dark hair, sharp jawline, and eyes so intense they felt like a physical touch when they landed on her.
*Fuck.* Sienna gasped.
No one had mentioned he was beautiful, devastatingly and dangerously beautiful.
"Miss Cross." His voice was deep, textured with an Italian accent that did things to her she absolutely couldn't afford to feel. "Marco tells me you're very good at finding things people don't want found." He said, staring sharply at her.
She forced herself to meet his gaze. "I'm the best," she said.
Something flickered in those dark eyes—amusement, interest.
He moved around his desk with predatory grace, stepping close enough that she could smell his cologne, Cedar and smoke. Expensively Intoxicating.
"Confidence. I like that." His eyes traveled over her slowly, assessing, not leering, but... appreciating. Then swiftly he turned, "Here's the problem. Someone's been skimming from my operations, someone close. I need you to find out who."
It was clearly a test. Because Luca Marchetti didn't hire outside investigators.
"And when I find them?" she asked, lifting her chin.
"Then I'll deal with them accordingly." His smile was sharp. "Does that bother you?"
"I'm not here to judge your methods, Mr. Marchetti." She quickly noted.
"Luca," he corrected, stepping even closer. Close enough that she had to tilt her head back. "And I should tell you—I know you're not just a private investigator."
Her pulse spiked. "I don't know what you mean."
"You were hired by the Calderone family to spy on me." He said it casually, like commenting on the weather. "They're paying you fifty thousand to gather intelligence but the question is.."
He reached out, caught a strand of her hair between his fingers. "—why would I keep you alive knowing that, hmm?"
Every instinct screamed at her to run. But Sienna had learned long ago that predators only chase what runs, so yea she stood still, trying harder to cover up her fears.
"Because you're curious," she said steadily. "You want to know what I'll do, if I'll stay loyal to them or if I can be turned."
His laugh was low, genuine. "Smart girl." He released her hair, but didn't step back. "Here's my offer. Work for me. Really work for me. I'll pay you triple what the Calderones offered and you'll have access to everything. and anything you want."
"And when the Calderones realize I've switched sides?"
"That's your problem to manage." His eyes held hers. "But I imagine a woman smart enough to play both sides is smart enough to survive."
One hundred and fifty thousand dollars?.
Enough money to secure her mother's future. But more importantly—unlimited access to Luca Marchetti's world. Everything she needed to destroy him.
She picked up the pen he offered. "Where do I start?"
"Tonight at my club, you'll come as my guest." His hand settled on the small of her back as he guided her to the door, the touch burning through her thin blouse. "Wear something nice… and Miss Cross? Don't disappoint me. I really hate being disappointed." He smiled as he walked away.
---
That night, Sienna stood outside Inferno in a black dress that hugged every curve. Simple, expensive and dangerous. Exactly what would fit.
Luca was waiting at the entrance, and the way his eyes darkened when he saw her made a heat pool low in her belly.
"Beautiful," he murmured, offering his arm.
The club was exactly what she expected—pulsing music, beautiful people, red velvet and dark corners. But Luca led her past all of it to a private elevator.
"VIP section," he explained as they ascended.
The doors opened to a floor that didn't officially exist. Men in expensive suits, women who looked like models, and an atmosphere of controlled danger.
Luca's hand never left her back as he introduced her around. His touch was possessive, deliberate. Marking territory.
"You're making a statement," she said when they had a moment alone at the bar.
"I'm establishing your position." He leaned in, lips close to her ear. "In this world, perception is everything. If they think you're just another investigator, they'll dismiss you. But if they think you're mine..." He let the implication hang.
"Am I? Yours?" She asked, her eyes mainly asking the question.
His hand slid around her waist, pulling her against him. She could feel every hard plane of his body.
"That depends," he said, voice dropping lower. "Are you loyal to me, Sienna? Or…are you still playing for the Calderones?"
Her name on his lips sent shivers down her spine. This close, she could see the flecks of gold in his dark eyes, the slight scar above his eyebrow.
"I'm loyal to whoever pays me," she managed. "And right now, that's you."
"Good answer." But he didn't release her. If anything, he pulled her closer, one hand sliding to the small of her back, fingers splaying possessively. "But let me make something very clear. If I find out you're betraying me, there won't be a conversation. You'll just disappear. Do you understand?"
She should be terrified. She *was* terrified. But she was also aroused in a way that made no sense.
"I understand," she whispered.
"Do you?" His other hand came up, thumb tracing her bottom lip. "Because I'm not sure you do. I'm not sure you understand what you've walked into. What I could do to you."
"Then show me."
The words were out before she could stop them. Luca's eyes flashed with something dark and hungry.
"Careful what you ask for, *tesoro*." The Italian endearment sounded like a threat and a promise. "I'm not a good man."
"I never said I wanted a good man."
For a moment, she thought he'd kiss her right there, in front of everyone. Instead, he stepped back, breaking the spell.
"Come on," he said roughly. "I'll take you home before I do something we'll both regret."
The drive to her apartment was thick with tension. Every red light felt like torture. Luca's hands gripped the steering wheel tight enough that his knuckles whitened.
When they pulled up outside her building, he turned to her.
"You did well tonight," he said.
"I observed. Just like you asked."
"And? What did you observe?"
She could play it safe. Or she could be bold.
"I observed that you want me as much as I want you," she said. "And we're both pretending we don't."
Luca's jaw clenched. "Sienna—"
"Tell me I'm wrong."
Instead of answering, he reached across the console, hand curling around the back of her neck, and pulled her into a kiss that stole her breath.
It was brutal and claiming—all teeth and tongue and three weeks of denial exploding. Sienna kissed him back just as hard, nails digging into his shoulders, letting out a moan that was pure need.
When they finally broke apart, both breathing hard, Luca pressed his forehead to hers.
"This is a terrible idea," he said.
"The worst," she agreed.
"You should go inside."
"I should."
Neither of them moved.
"Sienna." His voice was strained. "If you don't go now, I'm going to fuck you in this car. And I don't think either of us wants our first time to be in the front seat of an Aston Martin."
The promise in his words made her clench.
"Tomorrow," she said.
"Tomorrow," he agreed.
She forced herself out of the car, walked to her door on shaking legs. Only when she was inside did she hear him drive away.
Sienna leaned against the closed door, heart racing, lips swollen, body on fire.
She'd come here to destroy Luca Marchetti.
Instead, she was pretty sure he was going to destroy her.
And God help her, she couldn't wait.