Underworld ties

Dinner Date

Elena's POV

Elena was engrossed in her work when her phone buzzed. It was a message from Luca.

"Dinner tonight. 8 PM. I'll pick you up."

Her heart fluttered involuntarily, and she scolded herself for the reaction. This was just another move in their intricate game, nothing more. But despite her rationalization, she found herself glamming up for the occasion. She chose a sleek black dress that hugged her curves, paired with heels that gave her an extra edge of confidence. Her makeup was flawless, her hair cascading in waves down her back.

When Luca arrived at 8 PM sharp, he looked every bit the powerful man he was in a sharp blazer and tailored trousers. His eyes flickered with appreciation when he saw her, but he quickly masked it with his usual cool demeanor.

They arrived at an exclusive, private restaurant where only they were dining. The ambiance was intimate, with soft candlelight casting a warm glow around them. Elena felt a mix of excitement and apprehension.

As they sat down, the bickering began almost immediately.

"Did you really have to choose such an over-the-top place?" Elena asked, raising an eyebrow.

Luca smirked. "I thought you'd appreciate a night away from scheming. Or is that all you think about, Elena?"

Elena narrowed her eyes. "Scheming is a necessity when dealing with someone like you, Luca."

He leaned back in his chair, a playful glint in his eyes. "Maybe if you weren't so stubborn, we could actually work together."

"Work together?" she scoffed. "That's rich coming from someone who spends half his time trying to outmaneuver me."

Luca chuckled, the sound deep and resonant. "Maybe because it's the only way to keep you on your toes."

Elena felt a strange warmth at his words, despite herself. "You know, for someone who claims to despise me, you sure spend a lot of time thinking about me."

Luca's expression turned serious, his eyes locking onto hers. "Maybe you're not as easy to forget as you think."

Before Elena could respond, Luca's gaze shifted, his body tensing. He scanned the room, his eyes narrowing as if sensing something amiss.

"Luca?" Elena's voice was filled with confusion and concern. "What's wrong?"

Luca stood up abruptly, his hand reaching inside his blazer. "Stay behind me," he commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Elena's heart raced as she saw Luca's men subtly moving into position around the restaurant. She could sense the shift in the atmosphere, the sudden tension that crackled in the air.

"Luca, what is it?" she demanded, her voice a hushed whisper.

"Someone's here who shouldn't be," Luca muttered, his eyes scanning the shadows. "Stay close to me."

Elena nodded, her mind racing. As they moved together, she couldn't help but feel a strange mix of fear and exhilaration. Whatever was happening, they were in it together, whether they liked it or not.

Suddenly, the sound of gunfire shattered the tense silence, and chaos erupted around them. Luca pulled Elena to the floor, shielding her with his body as bullets flew. Elena's dress tangled around her legs, making it difficult to move. With a frustrated growl, she tore a slit in the fabric, freeing her legs for action.

"Nice move," Luca grunted, a hint of admiration in his voice.

"No time for compliments, Luca," she shot back, grabbing a fallen man's gun and firing back at their attackers.

The restaurant turned into a battlefield, with Luca and Elena fighting side by side. Despite their combined efforts, they were severely outnumbered. Elena could feel the tide turning against them.

"Luca, we're getting overpowered!" she yelled over the noise.

Luca pulled out his phone and dialed frantically. "Vince! We need backup, now! We're at La Bella Notte."

As the fighting intensified, a man lunged at Elena with a knife. She barely had time to react, her movements slowed by the remnants of fear from her nightmare. Luca saw the attack and a red haze of fury descended over him.

"Get away from her!" he roared, tackling the man to the ground. He pummeled the attacker with a relentless fury, his fists driving into the man's face until he was unrecognizable.

Elena, breathing heavily, turned to see Luca standing over the beaten man, his chest heaving with rage. The sight of him defending her with such intensity stirred something deep within her.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice a mixture of concern and residual anger.

"I'm fine," she replied, her voice trembling slightly. "Thank you."

Luca nodded, his eyes scanning the room for any remaining threats. The sound of approaching sirens signaled that Vince and reinforcements were on their way. They exchanged a brief, understanding look—this was far from over, but for now, they had survived another battle together.

As the adrenaline began to fade, Elena couldn't help but feel a strange connection to Luca, forged in the heat of their shared ordeal. The lines between hatred and something more had blurred once again, leaving her more confused than ever.

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No author note today...i think I'm in love :(

How dare they?? they said my bf is frictional  !!!!!!!