My Beautiful Seductress

Secret And Lies

Vivienne barely slept.

The warning note sat on her kitchen counter like a silent threat.

Stay away from Luca Marino.

The words haunted her.

Who had sent it?

And more importantly, why?

She had known Luca for only a short time. Yet somehow, someone already considered her close enough to him to be a problem.

Her phone buzzed.

A text message from Luca.

Are you home?

Vivienne stared at the screen.

Yes.

The reply came instantly.

Don't leave until I arrive.

Before she could respond, the message disappeared beneath another.

That's not a request.

Despite herself, Vivienne rolled her eyes.

The man was impossible.

Twenty minutes later, a knock sounded at her door.

When she opened it, Luca stood there.

Tall. Controlled. Dangerous.

Yet his gaze immediately swept over her as if checking she was unharmed.

"You look tired," he said.

"You sound bossy."

"I am bossy."

Vivienne hated how easily he made her smile.

Luca stepped inside.

His expression darkened when he noticed the note still lying on the counter.

"You shouldn't have kept it."

"Why?"

"Because whoever sent it may come back."

A chill ran through her.

"You really think I'm in danger?"

Luca's silence answered her question.

For the first time, genuine fear settled inside her chest.

He moved closer.

"Did you notice anyone following you?"

"No."

"Any strange calls?"

"No."

"Messages?"

"No."His jaw tightened.Luca clearly didn't like unanswered questions.

Neither did she.

"Tell me the truth," Vivienne said.

"Who wants to hurt you?"

His eyes met hers.

"There are many people who would enjoy seeing me suffer."

The honesty surprised her.

"That's a lot of enemies."

"It comes with success."

Vivienne almost laughed.

Success wasn't the only reason people feared Luca Marino.

But before she could say anything else, his phone rang.

Luca answered immediately.

The conversation lasted less than thirty seconds.

When it ended, his face became unreadable.

"What happened?"

"My men found something."

Something in his voice made her stomach tighten.

"What?"

Luca hesitated.

A rare occurrence.

Then he said quietly,

"They found information about you."

Vivienne froze.

Her heartbeat stumbled.

"What kind of information?"

Luca studied her carefully.

"The kind you didn't tell me."

Silence filled the room.

For several long seconds, neither spoke.

"What exactly did they find?" she asked.

Luca reached into his jacket and removed a file.

He placed it on the table.

Vivienne stared at it.

Her throat went dry.

Slowly, she opened it.

Inside were photographs.

Old photographs.

Photographs she had hoped never to see again.

The color drained from her face.

Luca noticed immediately.

"So it's true."

Vivienne closed the file.

Her hands trembled.

"Where did you get this?"

"Answer the question."

She looked away.

The secrets she had spent years burying suddenly felt dangerously close to the surface.

"I didn't lie."

"You omitted the truth."

"There's a difference."

"Not to me."

The tension between them thickened.

Luca wasn't angry.

That would have been easier.

He looked disappointed.

For some reason, that hurt more.

"You don't understand," Vivienne whispered.

"Then explain."

She wanted to,more than anything but she couldn't.

Not yet because if Luca discovered everything, he might never look at her the same way again.

The silence stretched.

Finally, Luca stood.

"I'll give you time."

"Time for what?"

"To decide whether you trust me."

His words hit harder than she expected.

Before leaving, he paused beside her.

"Whatever you're hiding," he said quietly, "it's already catching up to you."

Then he walked away.

Vivienne remained frozen long after the door closed.

A terrible feeling settled over her.He was right. Her past was coming and it was coming fast.

---

Two nights later, everything exploded.Vivienne was driving home after meeting a client when headlights suddenly appeared behind her.

Bright.

Fast.

Aggressive.

She frowned. The vehicle accelerated.

Something felt wrong.

Very wrong.Her pulse quickened.The car behind her moved closer.Then closer still.

Almost touching her bumper.

Fear gripped her chest.

She changed lanes.

The other car followed.

A cold wave of panic swept through her.

Someone was chasing her.

Vivienne reached for her phone.

Her hands shook.

She dialed the only number that came to mind.

Luca answered immediately.

"Vivienne?"

"I think someone is following me."

The silence on the other end turned deadly.

"Where are you?"

She gave him her location.

"Listen carefully," Luca said.

His voice was calm.

Too calm.

"Keep driving."

The vehicle behind her suddenly accelerated.

Then slammed into the rear of her car.

Vivienne screamed.

The impact sent her vehicle swerving across the road.

Tires screeched. Metal groaned,her heart pounded violently.

"Luca!"

"I'm here."

Another hit.

Harder this time.

The attackers weren't trying to scare her.

They were trying to kill her.

"Stay on the line," Luca ordered.

"I can't—"

A third impact struck.

Glass shattered.

Vivienne cried out,everything spun,the world blurred. Then another set of headlights appeared ahead.

Black SUVs.

Several of them.The pursuing vehicle suddenly slowed. Then turned away.

Disappearing into the darkness.

Seconds later, Luca's convoy surrounded her damaged car.

The driver's door opened.

Luca reached her first.

His face looked terrifying. Not afraid.

Furious. Pure rage burned in his eyes.

"Are you hurt?"

Vivienne shook her head weakly.

The moment Luca saw the broken glass and blood on her arm, something inside him snapped.His expression became lethal.The kind of expression that made powerful men pray.

He carefully lifted her into his arms.For the first time, Vivienne felt completely safe and completely terrified because the look on Luca's face promised only one thing.

War.Someone had tried to kill her and Luca Marino was about to make them regret it.