Rose’s POV

I didn’t wait to find out if they saw me.

The second I heard, “Who’s there?” in Luther’s voice, I slipped behind the waste bin and vanished into the alley’s shadows.

My heart was pounding in my ears as I bolted down the narrow path, lungs burning, panic rising.

Luther.
Vicenzo.

They weren’t supposed to be in the same room, let alone shaking hands in the shadows like allies.

And if Luther didn’t know Vicenzo was my ex, the man who once pointed a gun at my face then I was carrying a secret that could destroy everything between us.

I barely made it home before the breakdown hit.

I kicked off my heels, locked the door, and slid to the floor. My stomach was twisted in knots. My thoughts were everywhere. Luther had made me feel safe. Desired. Seen. But what if it was all part of a game?

What if I was just a pawn between two monsters?

He showed up later that night.

One knock on the door, and I already knew it was him.

I opened it, breath tight in my chest.

Luther stood there, calm, collected, but his eyes were colder than usual. His jaw was tense.

"Are you okay?" he asked softly.

“Do I look okay?” I stepped aside to let him in. My voice was sharper than I meant it to be, but I didn’t care.

He walked in slowly, like he was studying me. “You weren’t answering your phone.”

“I’ve been busy,” I muttered. “Thinking.”

He paused. “About what?”

“You tell me.” I turned to face him. “What kind of business makes a man disappear from a date without a word?”

“Business I didn’t plan to explain to you.” He said with an attitude I didn’t seem to understand

“Because you didn’t expect me to follow you.”

His eyes narrowed. “You did?”

“You left me on our first date , the first you should have done would have been to apologize but instead you are acting like you did nothing” I said as I pressed further

“I saw you,” I said coldly.

“At the club. Talking to him.”

He raised an eyebrow, curious. “Who?”

“The man in the blue mask.”

Luther tensed just slightly but he hid it well. “That’s not something you needed to see.”

“No? Then what did you want me to see, Luther? The way you kissed me like I meant something, only to meet with a man I—” I stopped myself. Almost slipped.

“Go on,” he said slowly.

I shook my head. “Forget it.”

He stepped closer. “Rose, what aren’t you telling me?”

I swallowed hard. “I could ask you the same thing.”

“You first.”

I smiled bitterly. “No. I’m tired of being the open book. Your turn.”

We stood there in silence, tension thick in the air.

Then he said, “He’s not a friend. That’s all you need to know.”

“But you were smiling. Shaking hands.”

“Sometimes, the devil wears a smile to keep his enemies close.”

“Then what does he wear around me?”

Luther’s expression darkened. “You’re not my enemy.”

“Then stop treating me like one.”

He didn’t reply. Instead, he walked to the window, stared out for a long second, and then said, “I have enemies, Rose. People you can’t even imagine. You’re safer knowing less.”

“I’m not afraid of danger.”

“No,” he said, turning toward me. “But I’m afraid of losing control when it comes to you.”

My breath caught.

His hands were on me before I could blink—gripping my waist, lips crashing against mine, wild and raw. There was no space between us, only heat and tension and the ache of too many words left unsaid.

He seemed to be kissing my anger away, I had to stop him I said as I tried my best to fight the urge against him but instead my knees weakened, I gathered up the courage as I stopped him immediately.

Stop!!!!!!!! I said as he came to a halt immediately, I really do not understand you are keeping things to yourself but I think I understand, besides we haven’t been together for long.

“Vicenzo conti the man who you shook hands with is my ex !”,I blurted out as Luther Lombardi eyes grew wide open

“Wait what !” He said looking at me confused, and just immediately his eyes got a bit cold

“What happened between the both of you?” He asked dryly

“We broke up, he cheated on me” I said purposely omitting his mother’s part as I was warned earlier.

“Mmmhhh” he said “but that in the past now “, why do you seem to get all so worked up, he added.

Then I looked at him unsure of what to say

“Nothing, was just so annoying seeing the two of you shaking hands” I said while he saw his eye boring into me from my head to toe.

“Rose” he said while coming closer towards me, you seemed so vent up right now , what happened, he asked as my head was turning and churning right now.

“Should I tell him, should I not tell him” I thought about it as my head swayed and swayed unsure of what to do

“He wants me back!!” I blurted out, perhaps I could tell him about the threats

“And he is threatening me to have me back, he was at my apartment the other day with a gun” I said out to him as he looked at me calmly.

“Rose “ he said calmly as he took his steps closer landing towards me his eyes meeting mine not looking away.

“Do you know who Vicenzo conti is “ he said while I looked at him startled wondering why won’t I know who he is

“He is a known business man” I said as he smirked, that evil smirk people usually had on their faces

“You know nothing about Vicenzo “ he said as his voice remained calm

“What do you mea…….” And before I could finish the statement he cut me in

“Do you know who I am?????” He asked again