Between Two Worlds
Mia knew things had changed the second she stepped out of Lorenzo's bedroom.
She could still feel the heat of his touch, the way his hands had mapped out every inch of her skin, the way he had looked at herânot just with hunger, but with something deeper. Something she wasn't sure either of them was ready to name.
But reality was waiting.
And reality didn't care about soft touches and whispered confessions.
She wrapped his shirt around herself, padding barefoot toward the kitchen. The penthouse was eerily quiet, the air still thick with the remnants of the night before. As she reached for a glass, she caught movement in the reflection of the windowâ
Lorenzo.
He stood near the doorway, watching her. He had pulled on a pair of black sweats, but his chest was still bare, the muscles tense like he was battling something inside himself.
Mia arched a brow. "You always stare this much?"
A smirk ghosted across his lips. "Only when I don't know what the hell I'm doing."
She let out a soft laugh, leaning against the counter. "And what exactly are you trying to figure out?"
Lorenzo exhaled, running a hand through his hair before closing the distance between them. He didn't touch herânot yet. But his presence alone was enough to make her skin hum with awareness.
"This," he admitted. "You." His jaw clenched. "Last night... it wasn't just a mistake, was
it?"
Mia swallowed hard. She could lie. She could tell him it was nothingâjust heat, just a moment. But they both knew better.
"No," she whispered. "It wasn't."
His eyes darkened. He lifted a hand, trailing his knuckles down the side of her face. "Then you need to understand what that means, Mia."
She did.
She understood that being with a man like him came with consequences.
That she wasn't just stepping into a relationshipâshe was stepping into his world.
A world where danger wasn't just a possibility. It was a certainty.
Before she could respond, a sharp knock at the door shattered the moment.
Lorenzo's entire demeanor changed in an instant. The warmth in his eyes disappeared, replaced by something cold and deadly.
Mia barely had time to react before he was in front of her, shielding her with his body as he pulled a gun from behind his waistband.
Her heart slammed against her ribs.
Oh.
The knock came againâlouder this time.
Lorenzo moved toward the door, gun in hand. He glanced back at her once, his expression unreadable.
"Stay here."
Mia didn't argue.
She watched as he opened the door just enough to see who was on the other side. A man stood there, dressed in black, his face set in a grim expression.
"Boss," the man said, voice low. "We have a problem."
Lorenzo stiffened. "What kind of problem?"
The man's gaze flickered toward Mia, still standing in the kitchen.
Mia's stomach twisted.
This wasn't just his problem.
It was about to become hers, too.