Page 56 of Sins of the Father
“I wasn’t sure.”
He leaned back, studying her with quiet amusement. “The things you want,mia colombina,are important to me.”
Mia smiled, crossing to him. She sank into his lap, straddling him, feeling the tension in his body beneath her palms.
“You’re determined to distract me today,” he murmured, his voice roughening.
“No,” she whispered, brushing her mouth against his. “Just a kiss.”
“Nothing is ever just a kiss with you—”
She silenced him with her lips. The kiss deepened quickly, heat sparking between them. His taste filled her—coffee, mint, and something darker, purely Luc. She parted for him, welcoming the slow stroke of his tongue that sent a tremor through her body. Her fingers slid into his hair, gripping tighter when his hand curved around her hip, anchoring her to him.
A low sound escaped her—half sigh, half plea—as the kiss grew hungrier. She could feel the sharp edge of his restraint, how close he was to losing it, and it thrilled her. It always did.
When she finally drew back, her lips felt swollen, her breath uneven. Her heart raced so hard she was certain he could feel it against his chest.
Luc rested his forehead against hers, his voice rough. “You call that just a kiss?”
Her laugh came soft and breathless. Mia shimmied off his lap, laughter bubbling in her chest as she ran from his office to find Bianca.
That night, the club throbbed with life. Hidden behind mirrored glass and velvet ropes, it was one of those places reserved for the powerful and the reckless—men who sealed deals with a handshake and a threat, women draped in diamonds and danger. The bass pulsed low, steady as a heartbeat, while smoke and colored lights curled through the air like whispers of temptation.
Mia felt the music before she even saw the dance floor. The beat slid over her skin, wrapping her in rhythm as the world glittered around her—crystal chandeliers, velvet booths, champagne flutes catching light like liquid fire.
She’d dressed daringly tonight. Her gown was a deep sapphire silk that hugged her curves and left her back bare to the small of her spine. A daring slit climbed high on her thigh, revealing long legs accentuated by the silver stilettos she’d spent days practicing in under Bianca’s watchful coaching. Each step had been a challenge, but now she moved with effortless grace. The heels made her feel taller, stronger—like a woman fully inhabiting her power.
From their private loft, she sipped a cocktail laced with citrus and vodka, savoring the tart sting on her tongue. Below, Bianca twirled on the dance floor with her boyfriend Tony, her sequined dress scattering light like shards of glass.
“This club is amazing!” Bianca shouted as she bounded back up to their section, cheeks flushed, eyes sparkling. “I can’t believe Luc actually let us come here—it’s packed!”
Mia smiled, though her chest tightened a little. “I see at least eight of our men,” she said softly. The subtle gleam of earpiecesand tailored jackets confirmed it—Luc’s presence lingered even in his absence.
Her gaze caught on Tony’s friend Mario, who had been watching her all evening with lazy confidence. When he edged closer, Carlos appeared at her side like a living shadow, his expression so cold it could cut glass. Mia tilted her head slightly, a silent signal—she was fine.
“Wanna dance?” Mario asked, already taking a step back under Carlos’s glare.
Mia gave a polite smile. “Two left feet.”
Tony shot Mario a warning look—stand down—before steering him away.
Bianca appeared again, flushed and laughing, her hand closing around Mia’s wrist. “Come on! Dance with me!”
Mia hesitated only a second before giving in, setting her drink down and letting her friend pull her toward the pulsing crowd below.
The floor vibrated beneath her heels, the air thick with heat, perfume, and bass. She moved tentatively at first, then freer, her hips swaying to the beat, her body finding its rhythm. The silk of her dress slid against her thighs as she raised her arms, laughing when Bianca spun her. For the first time in what felt like forever, Mia forgot to be cautious. The music drowned out everything—fear, worry, even Luc’s shadow. Her heart raced, her skin flushed, and she let herself get lost in the light and sound—alive, reckless, and entirely her own.
Carlos materialized at Mia’s elbow, his usual granite expression tighter than usual. “Boss wants you upstairs.”
Mia’s heart skipped. “Luc is here?”
She followed Carlos’s gaze upward—and there he was.
Luc stood on the third-floor balcony of the VIP area, a dark silhouette against the amber glow of chandeliers. The sight of him stole her breath. He wore a tailored black suit, the jacketopen, shirt unbuttoned at the throat, a glint of his watch catching the light as he rested one hand on the railing. His eyes were fixed on her—intense, unblinking, claiming. Around him, the crowd seemed to fade, their noise and motion swallowed by the weight of his presence.
He looked both alluring and dangerous. The kind of man who could make you tremble with one look and ruin you with a whisper. That gaze alone felt like a touch, sliding over her skin, coaxing her pulse to quicken.
A slow smile curved Mia’s lips. The thrill of defiance surged through her, reckless and intoxicating. She raised a single finger and crooked it toward him, a silent, sensual invitation. Her hips swayed to the heavy rhythm of the music, each movement deliberate—a dare.
