My Beautiful Seductress

Playing With Fire

Vivienne had spent three days trying not to think about Luca Marino.

Three days of throwing herself into work, meeting clients, and convincing herself that the dangerous man with cold gray eyes was none of her concern.

Unfortunately, her mind refused to cooperate.

Every time she closed her eyes, she remembered his stare.

Every warning she had heard about him should have been enough to keep her away.

Instead, she found herself curious.

That curiosity irritated her.

She was leaving a café one afternoon when a black luxury car pulled up beside the sidewalk.

Vivienne froze.

The tinted window lowered.

Luca sat inside.

His expensive suit looked as flawless as ever, and his expression remained unreadable.

"Get in."

Vivienne blinked.

"Excuse me?"

"Get in."

She folded her arms.

"Do you always order people around?"

A faint smile touched his lips.

"Only when they refuse to listen."

I'm not getting into a stranger's car."

"You know exactly who I am."

"That's precisely why I'm not getting in."

To her surprise, Luca laughed softly.

The sound caught her completely off guard.

Most people described Luca Marino as cold and ruthless.

Nobody mentioned that his laugh was dangerously attractive.

"Five minutes," he said.

"Why?"

"Because I want to talk to you."

Vivienne stared at him.

Normal men did not make her nervous.

Luca did.

Yet for reasons she couldn't understand, she stepped into the car.

The moment the door closed, she regretted it.

The air felt charged.

Luca's presence filled the entire space.

"You shouldn't keep following me," she said.

"I don't follow people."

"Really?"

"No."

His honesty surprised her.

"I simply go wherever I please."

"Convenient."

His eyes darkened with amusement.

"Very."

For several seconds neither spoke.

The silence wasn't uncomfortable.

It was dangerous.

The kind of silence that made her aware of every breath she took.

Luca studied her carefully.

"You still aren't afraid of me."

"Should I be?"

"Most people are."

"Maybe most people don't know you."

A strange expression crossed his face.

"And you do?"

"No," she admitted.

"Exactly."

For a moment, something softened in his eyes.

Then it disappeared.

The car stopped outside a private garden overlooking the city.

Luca stepped out first.

After a brief hesitation, Vivienne followed.

The late afternoon sunlight painted the skyline gold.

For the first time since meeting him, Luca seemed almost relaxed.

Almost human.

"Beautiful view," she said.

"It is."

Yet he wasn't looking at the city.

He was looking at her.

Vivienne's pulse quickened.

Neither moved.

Neither looked away.

The attraction between them was becoming impossible to ignore.

And that terrified her.

Because Luca Marino was the kind of man who destroyed lives without hesitation.

She should walk away.

She should run.

Instead, she remained exactly where she was.

For the first time in years, Luca felt something dangerously close to peace.

It happened whenever Vivienne was near.

That alone made her a threat.

Weaknesses got men like him killed.

Yet every instinct pushed him toward her instead.

His phone vibrated.

The moment shattered.

Luca glanced at the screen.

His expression instantly hardened.

Vivienne noticed.

"What happened?"

"Nothing."

She knew he was lying.

Before she could question him further, Luca's bodyguard approached.

The man's face was grim.

"Boss."

Luca turned.

"What is it?"

The bodyguard handed him a small envelope.

Luca frowned.

"There was no name on it."

A cold feeling settled in Vivienne's stomach.

Luca opened it.

Inside was a single sheet of paper.

His jaw tightened.

"What does it say?" Vivienne asked.

For several seconds he remained silent.

Then he handed her the note.

Her blood ran cold.

The message contained only four words.

Stay away from Luca Marino.

Vivienne looked up sharply.

"Who sent this?"

Luca's expression became dangerous.

"I intend to find out."

For the first time since meeting him, genuine fear crept into her chest.

Someone was watching.

Someone knew about her connection to Luca.

And whoever they were, they considered her a target.

As Luca stared into the distance, his eyes turned deadly.

The game had changed.

And Vivienne realized she might already be in far more danger than she had ever imagined.