Chapter 3 - THE UNBROKEN PROMISE
Before I could answer, a soft knock rattled the locked lounge door.
"Mr. Castellani?" a low, gravelly voice called from the hallway. It was Marco, Luca’s primary head of security. "We have a situation in the main ballroom. The Moretti family sent a representative."
Luca froze. The gentle warmth in his eyes vanished instantly, replaced by the lethal predator I knew existed beneath his expensive suits.
"Stay here, Mara," he commanded quietly, stepping back.
"Luca, no," I said, grabbing his forearm. "The Morettis are your rivals. If they're here, it’s a setup."
He looked down at my hand resting on his arm, a faint, dark smile touching his lips. "Are you worried about me, Miss Thornton?"
"I'm worried you're going to ruin Rachel’s wedding," I snapped, though my heart was pounding with fear for him.
Luca reached into his shoulder holster beneath his vest, checking the slide of a sleek black pistol before tucking it back into place. He put his jacket back on, smoothing the lapels with absolute composure.
"Wait in this room," Luca said, his voice leaving no room for argument. "When I clear the ballroom, I will come back for you. And then you and I are going to have a very long conversation about that dress."
"And if I leave?" I challenged.
Luca walked to the door, unlocked it, and paused, turning his head slightly to look back at me.
May you like
"If you step onto that dance floor with another man, Mara," he murmured, "I’ll buy the hotel, fire the staff, and carry you out over my shoulder in front of three hundred people."
He stepped out and closed the door softly behind him.