Page 23 of Ivory Obsession

Marco laughed, throwing his head back when he did. “Maybe not, but he is a scary motherfucker. I don’t want to have to defend you.”

“You won’t,” I said. “I got this.”

“You sure?”

“Always,” I said, but even as the words left my mouth, I knew that my heart wasn’t entirely in it. Jade had already gotten under my skin in ways I hadn’t anticipated.

Marco’s dark eyes searched mine for a moment longer, as if he could see right through the facade. Then he nodded once, sharply, and slid into the car without another word.

I watched as the vehicle pulled away from the curb, its taillights disappearing into the night. Alone now, I felt the weight of the decisions ahead of me—decisions that held the potential to reshape not just my life, but the lives of everyone connected to the Moretti name.

I took a taxi back to my apartment. The night was cool, the kind of crisp autumn air that makes you feel alive. I shoved my hands into the pockets of my jeans as I walked out of the car toward my building, each step echoing against the concrete. The city around me was quiet, almost peaceful, a stark contrast to the storm raging in my head.

“Family first.”

Dad’s voice echoed like a mantra I’d heard since childhood. Enzo Moretti didn’t just expect obedience; he demanded it. And here I was, thinking about risking it all for a woman who had no idea what she’d walked into. For a woman who believed in making the world better while standing in the middle of a battlefield.

For a woman who had no idea who I was.

Her keycard was still in my apartment–I hadn’t used it yet. I was thinking about giving it back to her, telling her she’d just dropped it back at my place. I would do it next time I saw her.

Damn it.

Her name repeated itself in my head like a prayer, or maybe a curse. She was brilliance and beauty wrapped in innocence, and I was neck-deep in a life that could swallow her whole.

I reached my apartment building, the familiar sight offering no comfort tonight. In the elevator, my reflection stared back at me from the polished metal doors–I looked tired, old.

My apartment was dark when I entered, the only light spilling from the cityscape outside. I walked straight to the balcony, pushing the door open to let the city’s breath wash over me.

I looked out at the city—the city my family controlled with an iron fist—and felt something inside me shift. For the first time, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to be a part of its dark heart. For the first time, I wondered if I could be the one to challenge the empire built on blood and loyalty.

But I hadn’t even told her how much I liked her. I couldn’t be thinking of throwing my entire empire away for a woman who probably didn’t feel the same way I did about her.

No.

First I needed to take over the Moretti operation. Then I could do whatever the fuck I wanted to do.

And that included Dr. Jade Bentley.

Chapter Ten: Jade

The lab had chewed me up and spit me out, leaving my brain tangled in a web of genetic codes and ethical debates. I stood outside the familiar coffee shop, my hand hovering over the door handle like it was an electric fence. Dante’s texts were burning a hole in my pocket—polite enough to keep him at arm’s length but distant enough to draw a line. Just one coffee, I told myself, you can handle that.

Then I would reach out to him and…figure all this out.

I pushed open the door, the scent of roasted beans wrapping around me like a warm blanket. The barista nodded in recognition as I mouthed my order—a double espresso, no frills. I was running on autopilot, my thoughts still knotted with work until I turned and nearly collided with a wall of muscle and expensive cologne.

Dante Moretti.

“Jade,” he said, his voice smooth as the espresso I craved, pulling me back to reality—a reality where Dante Moretti always seemed to be one step behind me, waiting. His dark eyes held mine, and every cell in my body went on high alert. There was no escaping now.

And I was pretty sure I didn’t want to escape.

“Jade, what a pleasant surprise,” Dante said, his voice rich with warmth that didn’t match the cool smirk on his face.

I was caught off guard and could only manage a small smile in response. “Dante, I didn’t see you there,” I replied, my voice betraying a nervous edge I hadn’t intended to reveal.

He stood there, all casual confidence in a tailored suit that probably cost more than my entire wardrobe. Despite my initial reluctance, I found myself being guided toward a small table by the window. We sat across from each other, the city’s hustle and bustle a mere backdrop to this unexpected encounter.

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