Chapter 3: Dangerous Secrets

The storm had passed, but the tension lingered in the De Luca estate like a thick fog. Livia sat in her private study, flipping through dossiers detailing Romano movements and allies. Her mind raced—not just with strategy, but with the memory of Matteo’s piercing gaze and unnerving presence the night before.

Enzo entered, voice sharp. “He’s bold, Livia. Too bold. If he comes back, it won’t just be a test. He’ll strike to weaken us.”

“I know,” she replied, not looking up. “And I’m ready. Let him try. He’ll see that the De Lucas aren’t to be underestimated.”

Vittoria appeared beside her, calm and composed. “There’s more at play here than we realize. The Romanos have secrets—alliances even we don’t know about. Trust no one outside this room.”

Across the city, Matteo Romano observed the De Luca estate from a darkened rooftop. Rain had turned the streets slick, reflecting neon lights. His gaze lingered on the estate, but his mind focused on Livia. She was… extraordinary.

“Marco, she’s unpredictable,” Matteo said, voice low, dominant. “Every move she makes is calculated, yet fiery. I can’t ignore her.”

Marco shook his head, cautious. “You’re dangerously close to letting your feelings cloud judgment.”

Matteo’s lips curved into a smirk. “Feelings, yes… but also respect. And maybe… something more.”

Later that evening, Livia stepped outside to inspect the perimeter herself. The crisp night air sharpened her senses. Every shadow seemed alive, every sound amplified. She moved silently, keenly aware that the Romanos could strike at any moment.

A sudden rustle behind her made her spin, pistol drawn. Matteo emerged from the shadows, coat drenched, eyes locked on hers.

“You shouldn’t be out here alone,” he said, voice low, commanding, yet tinged with something she couldn’t place.

“I’m not afraid of you,” Livia shot back, though her pulse betrayed her.

He stepped closer, dangerously calm. “Nor should you be… but beware. I don’t hold back.”

Livia’s chest tightened. Every instinct screamed at her to fire, to push him away, yet every nerve seemed alive under his presence.

Before words could escalate, a loud crash erupted from the estate—Romano operatives attempting infiltration. Livia’s training kicked in instantly. She moved with deadly precision, taking down the attackers with Enzo’s help. Matteo stayed back, observing, but his eyes never left her, admiration and desire flickering beneath the surface.

After the chaos, they found themselves alone in the estate’s courtyard. Rain dripped from the leaves, casting reflections that danced across their faces.

“You’re reckless,” Matteo murmured, stepping closer, voice low and magnetic.

“And you’re impossible,” Livia snapped, though her eyes betrayed a flicker of emotion she refused to name.

Their hands brushed accidentally, lingering longer than either expected. Heat flared, a silent acknowledgment of the tension neither wanted to confront.

“I shouldn’t… feel this,” Matteo whispered, gaze intense. “And yet, I do.”

“Neither should I,” Livia admitted, voice trembling with a mixture of anger and longing.

In that charged moment, both realized the truth: hatred and desire were two sides of the same coin, and neither could resist the pull any longer.

Outside, the city slept unaware of the dangerous game unfolding, where revenge, betrayal, and forbidden attraction were beginning to intertwine in ways that would change both families forever.

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