Chapter 2
A Dangerous Game
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Lily's heart raced, each beat thundering in her chest like a drum heralding her impending doom. The space around her suddenly felt too small, the air too thick, as Luca Castellano's imposing figure closed the gap between them. His dark eyes burned with a quiet intensity, and though he hadn't raised his voice, there was no mistaking the authority in his tone.
"You seemed very eager to slip away from my party, Elena." He said the name deliberately, his lips curling into a faint smirk as though mocking her attempt at a cover. "But something tells me you aren't here just for the champagne and small talk."
Lily forced herself to breathe, her fingers tightening around the clutch bag she still held. There was no way he knew who she really was—not yet, at least. All she needed was to buy herself some time, enough to come up with an escape plan before her carefully constructed cover unraveled completely.
"I wasn't feeling well," she said smoothly, channeling every ounce of confidence she didn't feel. She tilted her chin upward, meeting his gaze with a steadiness that surprised even her. "I thought some fresh air might help."
"And you thought the office wing was the best place for fresh air?" Luca asked, arching a dark eyebrow. His voice was calm, almost conversational, but the edge beneath it sent a chill down her spine.
Lily's mouth went dry, but she didn't waver. "I got lost," she said simply, shrugging as though it were the most natural thing in the world. "This place is massive."
Luca didn't respond immediately. Instead, he took another step closer, his gaze sweeping over her with a sharpness that made her feel as though he could see right through her. The weight of his attention was suffocating, yet strangely magnetic. She could feel the heat radiating off him, his presence as commanding as it was dangerous.
"You're not lost," he said finally, his voice dropping to a near-whisper. "You knew exactly where you were going."
Lily's pulse quickened. He was too perceptive, too attuned to the smallest details, and every instinct she had screamed that she was in over her head. But she refused to let him see her panic. She forced a faint smile, her lips curving just enough to seem unconcerned.
"You give me far too much credit," she said lightly, though her voice trembled ever so slightly.
Luca tilted his head, studying her with an expression that was both intrigued and skeptical. "You're a terrible liar," he said, his tone soft but cutting. "And do you know what I do to liars, Elena?"
The way he said her alias sent a shiver down her spine, the deliberate emphasis on the name driving home that he didn't believe it for a second. Still, she held her ground, her heart pounding as she searched for a way out.
Luca stepped even closer, and Lily found herself backed against the cool surface of the office door. His proximity was overwhelming, his presence a force that seemed to consume the air around them. Her breath hitched as his hand brushed against the doorframe, effectively caging her in.
"You're going to tell me who you really are," he said softly, his dark eyes boring into hers. "And why you're here. Or…" His voice trailed off, and though he didn't finish the sentence, the unspoken threat hung heavily in the air.
Lily's mind raced, every scenario she could think of ending in disaster. She had two choices: confess and hope for mercy or double down on her lie and pray he wouldn't call her bluff. Neither option felt particularly promising.
Before she could respond, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the hallway, breaking the tense silence. Luca's gaze flicked toward the noise, his expression darkening, and Lily seized the opportunity. Without thinking, she slipped under his arm and darted down the opposite direction of the hall, her heels clicking frantically against the marble floor.
"Stop her!" Luca barked, his voice sharp and commanding.
Lily didn't look back. Adrenaline surged through her veins as she sprinted toward the exit, her clutch clutched tightly against her chest. She could hear the sound of men shouting behind her, their footsteps growing louder as they gave chase. She pushed herself harder, weaving through the labyrinth of hallways with a speed she didn't know she possessed.
But her luck didn't hold.
As she rounded a corner, a large figure appeared in front of her, blocking her path. One of Luca's men. He reached for her, but Lily ducked under his arm, twisting away before he could grab her. She bolted toward the nearest door, her heart pounding as she shoved it open and stumbled onto a balcony.
The cool night air hit her like a wave, and she gasped for breath as she looked around. The balcony overlooked the estate's sprawling gardens, their manicured hedges illuminated by soft golden lights. It was beautiful, but there was no time to admire the view. She could hear the men closing in behind her, their voices growing louder with every passing second.
Trapped.
Lily's mind raced as she scanned her surroundings, searching for an escape route. Her eyes landed on the trellis attached to the balcony railing, its latticework climbing down toward the garden below. It was a risky move, but it was her only option.
Without hesitation, she slipped off her heels and climbed onto the railing, her heart pounding as she grabbed onto the trellis. The wooden structure creaked under her weight, but she ignored it, her focus entirely on making it to the ground. Her hands burned as she gripped the edges tightly, her muscles straining with the effort.
"Don't move," a voice growled from above, and Lily froze.
She looked up to see Luca standing on the balcony, his dark eyes locked onto hers. His expression was unreadable, but there was something in his gaze that made her chest tighten. Something dangerous. Something undeniable.
"You're going to fall," he said evenly, as though it were a simple fact.
"I'll take my chances," Lily shot back, her voice trembling with a mix of defiance and fear.
"Or you could come back up here," he said, his tone softening ever so slightly. "And we can talk."
She hesitated, her grip on the trellis tightening. She didn't trust him—not even for a second. But the longer she hung there, the more she realized he might be right. The trellis wasn't sturdy enough to hold her for much longer, and a fall from this height could be fatal.
"I'm not going to hurt you," Luca said, his voice low and steady. "But you need to trust me."
Lily laughed bitterly, her arms trembling as she struggled to hold herself up. "Trust you?" she said, glaring at him. "You just had me chased down like a criminal."
"Because I don't know who you are," he said simply. "But I'd like to."
His words caught her off guard, and for a moment, she saw something in his eyes—curiosity, perhaps, or maybe even sincerity. But it wasn't enough to erase the danger he represented, the threat he posed to everything she stood for.
The trellis creaked again, and Lily's heart leapt into her throat as it began to splinter under her weight. Panic surged through her, but before she could react, Luca reached out, his hand grasping her wrist with surprising gentleness.
"I've got you," he said firmly, his gaze steady as he began to pull her back up. "Let go."
Her instincts screamed at her to resist, but the trellis gave another ominous creak, and she realized she didn't have a choice. With a shaky breath, she released her grip, letting Luca haul her back onto the balcony.
She collapsed onto the cold marble floor, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. Luca crouched beside her, his dark eyes scanning her face as though searching for answers she wasn't ready to give.
"You're not just some guest at this party," he said quietly, his voice laced with something she couldn't quite place. "So tell me, *Elena*—who are you?"
Lily met his gaze, her mind spinning as she tried to think of a way out. But the intensity in his eyes held her captive, and for the first time, she found herself questioning whether she could lie to him again.
And then, before she could answer, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway, and Luca's jaw tightened. "They're coming," he said, standing and extending a hand to her. "We need to move."
Lily hesitated, her heart pounding as she stared at his outstretched hand. Trusting him felt like stepping into a trap, but the alternative wasn't any better. With a deep breath, she placed her hand in his, allowing him to pull her to her feet.
"Stay close," Luca said, his voice low but commanding.
And as they disappeared into the shadows together, Lily couldn't shake the feeling that she'd just crossed a line she could never come back from.