Chapter 1

Luca

I'm sitting at my mahogany desk, my fingers steepled as I gaze out at the glittering city lights below. The Rolex on my wrist ticks steadily, each second echoing in the silence of my penthouse office.

The shrill ring of my cell phone cuts through the quiet. I glance at the caller ID. It's Enzo, my most trusted advisor. He wouldn't call at this hour unless it was urgent.

I answer with a curt "What is it?" My voice is gravel.

"Boss, I have some bad news." Enzo's normally stoic tone wavers. "It's about your brother Dante..."

My grip tightens on the phone, jaw clenching. "What about him?"

There's a heavy pause. "He's dead, Boss. Shot outside his home earlier tonight. I'm so sorry."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. I suck in a sharp breath, a storm of emotions roiling within me—shock, grief, white-hot rage.

My brother, my blood , gone just like that. Snuffed out by some cowardly bastard.

"Any leads on who did this?" I growl, my free hand balling into a fist.

"Not yet. But there's something else you should know..." Enzo hesitates. "Dante's wife was also killed. Their son Matteo is alive. He's only five years old."

Matteo. My nephew, now an orphan. The full weight of it hits me. This innocent boy's entire world has just shattered. And as my brother's only living relative, his care now falls to me.

I lean back in my leather chair and close my eyes for a long moment, letting the news sink in. When I open them, they blaze with renewed purpose and determination.

"Enzo, I want a status report within the hour. Mobilize every resource. We're going to find the scum who did this and make them pay." My tone is lethal calm. "And have Matteo brought to the estate immediately. He's under my protection now."

"Yes, Boss. Consider it done."

I end the call and stand, moving to the wall of windows. I press my palm to the cool glass, looking out over my dark kingdom of steel and shadow.

Everything has changed in an instant. But one thing is certain.

I will keep Matteo safe, no matter the cost. And I will rain down unholy vengeance on those who tore our family apart. This I vow, on my brother's blood.

They have no idea the hell that's coming for them.

But then I realize with a start that I don't know the first thing about caring for a child.

I pick up the phone and place a call.

The sharp rap of knuckles against wood jolts me from my vengeful musings. I slide my gun into its shoulder holster, schooling my features into an impenetrable mask.

"Enter."

Marco opens the door, revealing a curvaceous young woman clutching a bag, her wide eyes taking in the opulent surroundings. Chestnut curls frame a heart-shaped face—pretty, in a girl-next-door way. Innocence radiates from her like a beacon.

Innocence has no place in my world.

"Boss, this is Dana Johnson. The nanny agency sent her."

I rake her figure with an assessing gaze, noting the way she fidgets under my scrutiny. Nervous. Good. Fear is a useful tool.

"Ms. Johnson." I inject a thread of steel into my voice. "I trust you understand the gravity of this position. Discretion is non-negotiable."

She straightens her spine, meeting my stare head-on. Unexpected. "Of course, Mr. Romano. I'm here for Matteo, nothing else."

Bold little thing. The barest hint of a smile tugs at my mouth before I banish it. "Matteo is the sole focus. You'll be at his beck and call, tending to his every need. I expect your undivided attention on him."

"I wouldn't have it any other way." Conviction rings in her tone. "Childcare is my top priority."

Admirable, but she's naively unaware of the dark undercurrents in this house. In me .

I close the distance between us, catching the hitch in her breath when I invade her space. The scent of vanilla and something uniquely feminine invades my nostrils.

"One more thing." My voice is a low purr. "In this house, my word is law. Defy me..." I trail off, letting the unspoken threat hang in the air.

She tips her chin up fractionally, defiance sparking in her eyes. "I don't scare easily, Mr. Romano. And I never back down from a challenge."

Arousal courses through me, fierce and sudden. I want to snap that pretty neck. I want to bury myself inside her until she screams my name.

I do neither.

"Good." I give her a smile devoid of warmth. "Matteo's room is upstairs, third door on the left. Get to work, Ms. Johnson."

She nods, grip tightening on her bag as she walks past me.

Once she's gone, I turn to Marco, eyebrow arched. "Thoughts?"

He shrugs. "Nurturing type. Good with kids. Bit of a spitfire, though."

My eyes gleam, full of wicked promise. "It appears Ms. Johnson needs a lesson in submission."

One I'll greatly enjoy teaching her.

***

Three hours later, and I still can't get the damned nanny out of my head.

What the fuck is it about her?

Those luscious curves…

Those full breasts…

She's got a body on her, that's for sure. But I'm not so shallow that all I care about is looks.

It's something else.

Something I can't quite put my finger on.

I grab my laptop and pull up her file because I'm no idiot. I have a full file made of everyone who enters my domain.

No surprises that way.

Dana Johnson. 24 years old. Graduated top of her class with a degree in early childhood education. Glowing references. Not so much as a parking ticket on her record.

On paper, she's practically a saint. The perfect nanny.

But I saw the flash of defiance in her eyes. The spark of challenge when I laid down the law.

Little Ms. Johnson isn't quite the innocent angel she appears to be.

And I'm just the man to uncover her secrets.

I lean back in my chair, fingers drumming against the polished wood of my desk. I should be focusing on finding Dante's killer, on protecting Matteo, on running my empire.

Instead, I'm obsessing over a goddamn nanny.

I shake my head in disgust. Get it together, Romano. You're not some horny teenager. You're a fucking king.

But when I close my eyes, all I see is Dana. That sweet, curvy body. Those defiant eyes. That smart mouth that needs to be put to better use...

Fuuuuck.

I adjust myself, my cock already half-hard just thinking about her. This isn't like me. I'm always in control. Always calling the shots.

But something about her gets under my skin. Makes me want to lose control. To take her and make her mine in every way possible.

I need to stay away from her. For both our sakes. She's here for Matteo, not to be my plaything.

But, oh, what a curvy little plaything…

Dana

I carefully close the door to Matteo's room, relief washing over me. After a few hours of playing, reading stories, and gently soothing him, the poor little guy is finally asleep. My heart breaks for him. I can't imagine the trauma and confusion he must be feeling.

I lean against the wall for a moment, closing my eyes and just breathing. It's been a whirlwind since I arrived at the Romano estate. The sheer opulence of the place is staggering. And the man who runs it all...

Luca Romano. That name sends a shiver down my spine. He's easily the most intense, intimidating man I've ever met. Those piercing blue eyes seem to see right into my soul, stripping away every defense. And the way his suit clings to that powerful, muscular body...

No. I mentally shake myself. I can't be thinking about my boss that way. Especially not when he's just lost his brother and taken on the enormous responsibility of raising his orphaned nephew. Luca needs my help with Matteo, not my schoolgirl daydreams.

I straighten up, smoothing my skirt. I need to stay focused on what matters—taking the best possible care of that sweet, traumatized little boy. Even if his uncle does make my knees weak and my heart race.

I head downstairs in search of the kitchen, figuring I should familiarize myself with the layout of this massive house.

As I turn the corner into the lavish kitchen, I stop short. Luca is there, his back to me as he faces the marble countertop. His suit jacket is off, revealing the way his crisp white dress shirt stretches across his broad shoulders.

My breath catches in my throat. I didn't expect to run into him so soon. Or for the sight of him to affect me so viscerally.

Get a grip, Dana. He's your boss, not a GQ model.

I clear my throat softly. "Mr. Romano, I didn't mean to disturb you. I was just looking for the kitchen..."

He turns slowly, those ice blue eyes locking onto mine with laser focus. "It's Luca. Mr. Romano was my father."

"Luca," I repeat, my tongue darting out to wet my suddenly dry lips. "I just wanted to let you know that Matteo is asleep. He was understandably upset, but I managed to calm him down."

Luca nods, his gaze never leaving my face. "Good. That's...good."

Is it my imagination, or is his voice a little rougher than before? I suddenly feel too warm, too aware of him as a man, not just my employer.

"I know my way around kids pretty well," I say inanely, desperate to fill the charged silence. "I'm sure in time, with patience and love, Matteo will adjust to his new normal."

"His new normal?" Luca repeats, something dangerous flickering in his eyes. He steps closer, crowding into my space. "There's nothing normal about a five-year-old losing both parents. Nothing normal about having to live with an uncle he barely knows, in a world he has no idea about."

I stand my ground, lifting my chin. "I just meant that with the right support, Matteo can learn to cope and even thrive, despite the tragedy he's facing. He's so young. He's resilient."

Luca scoffs, a harsh sound. "Resilient? He shouldn't have to be resilient. He should have his parents. His innocence."

"You're right," I say softly. "It's not fair. None of this is fair to Matteo. But he has you now. He needs you."

Something in Luca's gaze shifts, a raw vulnerability peeking through before it's quickly shuttered. "I don't know how to do this. How to be what he needs. I'm not exactly fatherhood material."

I boldly reach out, laying my hand on his muscular forearm. His skin is warm, the dusting of hair tickling my palm. "You'll figure it out. You'll learn. And I'll be here, every step of the way. For Matteo."

His eyes drop to where my hand rests on his arm, then drags back up to my face. The air feels thick, crackling with a tension I can't name. Luca's gaze burns into me, searing me from the inside out. I know I should drop my hand, step back, put some distance between us. But I can't seem to make my body obey.

Finally, Luca clears his throat and steps back. He's all formality as he states with a nod, "Goodnight, Ms. Johnson."

He turns and leaves before I can bid him good night as well.

Leaving me there with cheeks and body burning.

Luca Romano is a dangerous man.

In more ways than one.