Page 47 of His Son's Ex

I shake my head. “That sounds nothing like you.”

He shrugs. “I had other influences. My parents had a certain brand of discipline. I learned never to mistake kindness for weakness, to be respectful and curious, that all actions have consequences. Linda’s family never taught Luca anything about respect. She raised him to be entitled and spoiled, to believe he could get away with anything and Mommy would fix it.”

I sip my coffee, absorbing his words. Sometimes, when I see the softer side of him, I forget he’s more than just an intimidating mafia don or a powerhouse CEO.

He reaches out, tugging me gently to stand between his legs as he leans back on a stool. “I know you don’t think Luca and I share much in common,” he says, his voice quiet, “and you’re right. We’re both stubborn, I guess, but his arrogance is pure Patterson. I’m sorry he hurt you.”

Warmth spreads in my chest. “Don’t apologize for him. He’s ancient history. I’m not losing any sleep over it.”

“Good,” Dante murmurs, leaning in to brush his lips across mine. The kiss is brief but still sends little sparks zipping through my nerves.

I sigh. “I really do have to go.”

“Me too,” he says, finishing his coffee in one long gulp. “Shall I have my driver drop you off?”

I roll my eyes. “I’m trying not to broadcast that I’m involved with you. If I step out of your limo, that’s about as subtle as a neon sign. I’ll take an Uber.”

He nods, not pushing the point. “All right. I’ll see you at the office, Ms. Smith.” His tone is teasing when he says my name, a grin tugging at his lips.

A soft thrill skitters through me. “See you there, Mr. Bellacino.”

I call for an Uber, wincing at the morning surge pricing. Still, it’s worth it to keep a low profile. By the time I reach the BK&C building, I’m juggling a half-eaten bagel and a travel mug of coffee—one I hastily poured before the Uber showed up.

I notice my stomach feels off, a low-grade queasiness that started creeping in a few days ago. I chalk it up to stress—my job is pretty intense, my personal life isdefinitelyintense, and I haven’t exactly been sleeping all that much.

I enter the staff kitchen for yet another caffeine fix, hoping to knock the lingering nausea on its head.

I fill my travel mug with fresh coffee, stifling a yawn. The day is already packed with tasks for the new cyber defense system I’ve been designing—an integrated threat intelligence platform designed to identify attacks before they can infiltrate our main systems.

No rest for the wicked.

Footsteps sound behind me and I glance over my shoulder. Luca strides in, smug as ever, a cocky ass grin plastered on his face.

Great.

“Eva.” He nods, going for the coffeepot. “Didn’t expect to see you here so early. Figured a big shot like yourself wouldn’t roll in until noon.”

“And I figured someone so used to skipping work might not show up at all.”

He chuckles, unfazed. “Ha, good one. I’m turning over a new leaf, you know. Gotta prove I’m worthy to be a part of my dad’s empire.”

I roll my eyes. We both know he doesn’t have the backbone.

He smirks, pouring himself a refill. “So, how’s the job treating you? Head of cybersecurity, that’s quite the promotion from your college hackathons.” His voice drips with condescension.

I force a polite smile, stepping aside to let him pass. “It’s fine, thanks. Busy.”

He snorts, coming a fraction too close. “You sure you’re not missing the days when we used to hang out?” He wiggles his eyebrows in a mock suggestive manner.

Every muscle in my body tenses. “That’s ancient history.”

“True.” He sets his mug down, leaning in like he’s about to share a secret. “But a guy wonders, you know? We had fun.” He reaches for my waist, making my skin crawl.

I step back before he can touch me. “Don’t do that, Luca.”

He’s about to retort when a low, dangerous voice cuts in. “Do what, exactly?”

Dante steps into the kitchen, the glare on his face making it evident he dislikes what he heard and what he sees—Lucastanding too close to me, my obvious discomfort. In a split second, the tension in the room skyrockets.

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