TO BE DETERMINED

into the fire

Four

Vanessa’s Point of View

I felt goosebumps on my skin, my hairs stood, that air thickened, pressing against my skin.

Walking into the private lounge at the airport, my muscles felt stiff, under the dim light Leather gleaming, my eyes weren't on the luxurious surroundings.

My eyes were on him, Leonardo Ricci, he walked with high shoulders you would feel he owned the airport.

His fingers rubbing my wrist as he walked by my side, each touch sent shivers through my spine.

I could hear my heart beat hard against my chest, I sat on the plush leather seat, Leonardo sat by my side, stretching his legs out, I could feel his eyes on me.

“You’re tense.” His voice, smooth, his chin, carried a smirk I didn’t have to see to recognize.

I turned toward the window, fingers curling around the armrest.

“I just watched my fiancé grope another woman, propose to a stranger, and get dragged into a trip I planned for someone else. Forgive me if I’m not feeling relaxed.”

He let out a small chuckle “Stranger?”

My breath hung on my lungs, I tilted my neck meeting his eyes, he leaned in our eyes still locked, his cologne hit my nostrils, overpowering my other senses.

“Then why did you choose me?” the air thickened, I parted my lips, wanting to shape an answer, when his phone buzzed against the table.

His eyes still on mine, he stretched his hands, taking the phone.

“ Jason?!” sweat beads formed on my head, his eyes narrowed watching me with a hungry gaze.

“He’s not giving up,” he said, his fingers tapping with little effort against the table.

I pushed the phone away, my voice higher than I felt it would come out. “I don’t want to talk to him.”

Leonardo let out a low hum on his lips, he raised the phone to his ear.

“Leonardo!” I said, but he lifted a finger, making my words get stuck in my throat with a single glance.

“Jason,” his voice deep and low, stretching out the name. “What an inconvenience on our Valentine trip.”

Jason’s voice came through the speaker. Leonardo’s lips curled, but there was no amusement in his eyes now, just his cold face.

“She’s mine now.”

My eyes popped out from their sockets, Jason's voice louder but Leonardo, he stood with a straight face.

“You had your chance, and you threw it away. Let me be clear, Jason…”

He was closer to me, his eyes locking me, his breath hitting my neck as it sent tingles, and his voice soft and deep.

“Disturb us again, I won't you go easily,”

Leonardo ended the call sliding the phone back into his pocket like Jason was nothing. Then, he turned to me, head tilted, eyes scanning my face as if taking in details of my body.

I swallowed hard. “That was not needed.”

“Was it?” he lifted his face to a smirk

I should have been angry. Should have thrown his phone in the room, reminding him that this wasn’t real. But the weight of his stare pressed against my skin, burning through every thought.

“You enjoyed that,” I said in a low voice tone.

He leaned back, fingers tapping the armrest. “Maybe.”

The cabin lights flickered , casting golden shadows over his sharp features.

My fingers curled around my sleeves forming a fist. Jason had been a puzzle I had solved long ago.

But Leonardo? He was the flicker of a flame before it became an inferno.

And I had just thrown myself into the fire or hell itself.

His fingers brushed against my wrist, slow and gentle. a touch that sent something hot burning through my stomach.

“Relax, baby girl,” he said in a deep low tone, “The game’s only just started.”

I wasn’t sure if he meant that as a comfort or a warning.

Maybe both.

But what was the game?