The fancy room sparkled like bad behavior covered in money.
Bright lights from glass fixtures shone on many people wearing masks, men in dark suits, women in fancy clothes and jewels, and plenty of armed guards to beat a small nation. Every important crime group in Mexico had sent their best people tonight. Agreements would be made, partnerships confirmed, and enemies watched closely.
Danger had never seemed so fancy.
Catalina got out of the car behind Valerio, her blue mask covering part of her face. The feathers on the edge touched her face as she breathed out slowly, hoping her fast heartbeat didn't give her away.
"Stay close," Valerio whispered, offering his arm.
She took it, even though his touch made her uncomfortable. She kept her face calm and obedient, like she always did around him. But inside, something felt uneasy tonight.
A feeling deep inside her.
A familiar warmth pushing against her ribs.
Luca Deluca walked into the fancy room through the other door, a black and silver mask hiding his eyes. His arrival had an effect on the room; people moved, eyes turned to him, and whispers sounded like worried birds.
New Boss.
Can't be predicted.
Can't be touched.
Luca didn't care about any of them.
He was here for only one reason.
His gut feeling had pulled him to this party with a power he couldn't explain, and as soon as his feet touched the shiny floor, he felt it: a strange feeling going up his back.
She was here.
He couldn't see her, of course. No one ever could. But a hunter knows the smell of another hunter, the slight change in the air, the stress of a killer blending in with everyone else.
Luca's brown eyes looked over the dancers, the laughter, and the glasses touching each other.
Then he stopped moving.
Across the room, partly hidden by Valerio's shoulder, a woman stood in a way he knew very well. The curve of her neck, how she stood on one foot, the ready tension of her fingers…
Something inside him jumped.
No. It can't be.
She looked nothing like his sweetheart. Catalina was gentle and kind. This woman was cold and deadly. But still,
He couldn't stop looking.
Jace stood next to him. "Is something wrong, boss?"
"Maybe," Luca whispered. "Maybe not."
But his heart was already beating like a hunter's.
Catalina felt him looking before she saw him.
Her back got straight under her silk dress, and she felt alert. She looked up slowly and carefully, and she gasped.
Luca.
Even with a mask, even dressed in dark colors and looking powerful, she would know that body anywhere. The wide shoulders, the confident stillness, the quiet hunger in how he looked around the room,
Her heart skipped a beat.
Valerio's voice brought her back to reality. "You seem distracted."
Catalina forced a small smile behind her mask. "Just watching."
Valerio clicked his tongue, pulling her closer. "Don't go anywhere. I want you where I can see you."
That was the problem.
She felt open with him, too easy to see. Especially when Luca stood across the room, staring through the crowd as if trying to take her mask off with his eyes.
She moved her head a little, letting the dim light hide her face. But her heart beat so loudly she was sure Valerio could hear it.
Even with a mask, Luca was a danger to her.
And even with a mask, she was a danger to him.
Luca's patience was running out.
He saw Valerio quietly say something into the ear of the woman with the blue mask. She nodded stiffly, her eyes quickly looking away like she wanted to leave.
Something about how she moved struck him again, quick and planned, like a blade hidden by silk.
Why does she seem so familiar?
He took a step forward before he could help it.
"Boss?" Jace whispered. "What's the plan?"
"I just want to look closer," Luca said quietly.
"Are you sure that's smart? She's with Valerio,"
"I know who Valerio is," Luca said sharply. "Stay behind me."
Jace sighed, giving up. "You're going to start a war one day, you know?"
Luca didn't say anything.
He was already moving.
Catalina's stomach felt tight when Luca started walking across the ballroom.
He was walking toward her.
Toward Valerio.
Toward danger.
Her eyes opened wide behind her mask.
No. Not here. Not like this.
She couldn't let him get close enough to know it was her. Luca could read her well, her breathing, how she tilted her head, how tense her fingers were. He saw everything.
And she couldn't risk him recognizing her even a little.
"Excuse me," she whispered to Valerio, stepping back before he could argue. "I need to use the restroom."
He frowned. "Don't be long."
She nodded and went into the crowd of dancers, moving between people like a shadow.
But Luca saw her.
His heart beat faster, and he felt excited, sharp and wild.
"There," he whispered. "That's her."
"Who?" Jace asked.
"The assassin."
Jace blinked. "You think that because… she walked away?"
Luca didn't bother explaining the feeling he had inside. He just followed her.
The restroom hallway was quieter, darker, with mirrors in gold frames that showed Catalina walking quickly. She got to the door, went inside, and locked it.
Her hands held onto the sink as she breathed in deeply. The room smelled like roses and expensive perfume, but she could still smell Luca on her skin from their last night together.
It made things worse.
She splashed cool water on her neck, trying to calm down.
But then,
Footsteps. Loud. Determined.
Her heart beat hard against her chest.
Luca.
She moved right away, going out through the side door for staff, her heels making soft sounds on the tile. She hurried through the back hallway and went into the ballroom just as the restroom door opened in the distance.
Luca stepped out, looking around quickly.
He had missed her by a few seconds.
And that small win made her feel excited.
But when she looked up,
He was staring at her again.
From across the hall, their eyes met. Her mask hid who she was, but Luca's feelings got stronger, making his face look dark and eager.
She went into the crowd.
People moved all around Catalina as she moved through the crowd of dancers. The music got louder and louder, making it hard to hear her breathe fast. She looked down, making sure each step was perfect.
Luca followed right behind her, moving ahead like a wolf following the smell of blood.
Each time she turned around, he was getting closer to her.
She felt a rush of feeling go through her.
It was fear.
It was excitement.
It was a weird mix of both feelings.
Right before he could grab her, she quickly moved away with a group of women wearing masks, and their dresses spread out around her like protection. Luca reached out to grab her, but the dancers stopped him, and by the time he got through them,
She was not there anymore.
She had gotten away from him.
Once more.
And chasing her made him feel something strong that he couldn't get rid of.
Luca stood in the middle of the big room, breathing hard, his heart beating fast, looking at everyone like he was crazy.
Jace walked up carefully. "Boss…? What just happened?"
Luca spoke quietly, in a scary and serious way.
"She is here," he whispered. "I can feel she is here. I almost got her."
Jace seemed puzzled. "The killer?"
Luca tightened his jaw. "Yes."
But as he looked into the crowd, searching for the woman with the blue mask who moved so quietly, a stra
nge and shocking truth suddenly hit him:
It wasn't enough just to catch the ghost anymore.
He had feelings for her.
No matter who she was.
No matter what she did.
And he would not stop until he found her.