Falling in Love with my Husband

Dangerous

Gemma swallowed down the frustration rising in her throat. She needed to think, to figure out her next move. If Gabriella had been here yesterday, then she had to still be on this ship—unless she had already found a way to escape.

No. She wouldn’t let her sister slip through her fingers. Not this time.

While the saleslady continued fussing over dresses, Gemma’s mind raced. Luke was occupied, trusting his men to keep an eye on her. That was his first mistake. If she acted quickly, she could find Gabriella before he did and figure out a way to get both of them off this ship.

A plan started forming in her mind. She wouldn’t wait around like some obedient pet while Luke played his games. She would take matters into her own hands.

“I need a moment,” Gemma said abruptly, her voice steadier than she expected.

The saleslady barely looked up. “Fine. Dressing room is in the back.”

Gemma didn’t hesitate. She grabbed the nearest dress—a flowing white one that looked expensive enough to distract the saleslady—before making her way toward the fitting rooms. But instead of going inside, she slipped past them and toward the back exit of the boutique. The hallway outside was empty. Good.

She moved quickly, her heart pounding. The ship was massive, but if Gabriella had been here yesterday, there had to be clues as to where she was staying. Gemma had no idea what she would do when she found her, but she had to try.

She turned down a corridor, trying to look as if she belonged. The ship’s interior was grand, lined with marble floors and soft golden lights. Luxury oozed from every corner, but all Gemma could focus on was getting to Gabriella before Luke did.

She was halfway down the hall when she heard a sharp voice behind her.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Her heart lurched as she turned to see the man in the suit—the same one who had escorted her earlier. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes carried a quiet warning.

“I was just—”

“Save it,” he cut in, stepping toward her. “Mr. Bianchi wants to see you. Now.”

Gemma’s stomach dropped. She had no choice. She was caught.

With a firm grip on her arm, the man guided her through the hallways. Her mind reeled with frustration. She had been so close.

They stopped in front of a set of double doors, and the man knocked once before pushing them open.

Luke was inside, standing near a desk with a drink in his hand. He turned at the sound of the door, his expression unreadable.

“Running off so soon?” he asked, his voice smooth but laced with something dark.

Gemma lifted her chin. “I was looking for my sister.”

Luke sighed, setting down his glass. “And what exactly was your plan? To wander the ship hoping to bump into her?”

Gemma said nothing.

Luke stepped closer, and for a moment, she could almost feel the heat radiating from him. “Let me make something very clear,” he said, his voice quiet but firm. “You don’t go anywhere without me knowing. You want to find your sister? You’ll do it on my terms.”

Gemma clenched her fists. “And what exactly are your terms?”

A smirk played on Luke’s lips. “For starters, you stop trying to run. And you stop assuming I’m the enemy here.”

Gemma’s breath hitched as he closed the space between them. There was something unnervingly magnetic about him, something that made her pulse quicken against her will. She hated it. Hated that, despite everything, she was still affected by him.

She swallowed hard. “If you really want me to stop running, then find my sister.”

Luke studied her for a moment before nodding. “I already have people looking. But until we locate her, you’re staying close. No more disappearing acts.”

Gemma knew she had no choice but to agree, but the fire in her hadn’t gone out.

“Fine,” she said, her voice even. “But don’t expect me to just sit here and play dress-up while you control everything.”

Luke’s lips twitched as if amused. “We’ll see.”

A knock at the door interrupted them, and Luke turned. The man in the suit stepped inside. “Mr. Bianchi, we have an update.”

Luke’s expression hardened. “Go on.”

“She was last seen at the ship’s VIP lounge yesterday evening. She used the card you gave her, but she hasn’t since.”

Gemma’s stomach tightened. Gabriella was here. Or at least she had been.

Luke nodded. “Then we start there.”

He turned to Gemma, his gaze unwavering. “You wanted to find her? Let’s go.”

Despite herself, hope flickered in Gemma’s chest.

Gemma’s heart pounded as Luke led her down the hall. His grip on her arm was firm, but his presence felt even more suffocating. She couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that he was keeping too many secrets—secrets that made her skin crawl.

At the VIP section they found out what her room number was since she left her key card at the counter. They arrived at Gabriella’s room, a suite near the top of the ship with a breathtaking view of the ocean. Luke knocked sharply, and when no one answered, he opened the door with a swift motion. Inside, the room was luxurious, with a large bed covered in plush linens and elegant furniture arranged in a way that screamed money and influence.

But there was no Gabriella.

Instead, a young man in his twenties was pacing near the window, his back to them. His dark hair was tousled as if he hadn’t slept in hours, and he was dressed casually, in a button-down shirt and jeans.

Gemma’s pulse quickened as she stepped inside. This wasn’t the way she imagined finding her sister.

The man turned abruptly at the sound of their entrance, his gaze landing on Gemma. His eyes widened in recognition, and before she could register what was happening, he took a step toward her.

“Gabriella!” he exclaimed, his voice filled with both relief and confusion. “Where have you been? I’ve been—”

He reached out, his arms open, but before he could pull her into an embrace, Luke moved swiftly, intercepting the man and stepping in front of Gemma.

The man froze, his face contorting with a mix of shock and anger. “What the hell?” he demanded, his gaze flicking between Gemma and Luke. “Who are you?”

Luke’s expression was cold, his voice like ice as he spoke. “Step back.”

The man hesitated but didn’t move. Luke’s eyes narrowed, and he took a step forward. His movements were controlled, precise, like someone who was accustomed to intimidating with nothing more than his presence. Gemma couldn’t help but feel a cold shiver run down her spine as she watched him. There was something terrifying about him, something that made her wonder if he was more dangerous than she had realized.

“I—I’m sorry,” the man stammered, his eyes darting between them. “I thought you were her. I—”

Luke raised a hand to silence him, then turned his attention back to Gemma. “Stay behind me,” he ordered in a low voice, his tone firm.

Gemma had no choice but to obey, though she couldn’t tear her gaze away from the stranger in the room.

The man, still wide-eyed, cleared his throat. “I’m Eric. Gabriella’s boyfriend. She—she never came back last night. We were having dinner, and the waiter came over and told her there was a phone call for her. That was the last time I saw her.” He ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident on his face. “I tried calling her, but her phone… it’s still here. Her bag, her phone, everything… she left them all at the table.”