6

"Absolutely not." Julia crossed her arms, glaring at Kate. "I'm not going back to Voltage."

"Come on!" Kate held up a dress—not Julia's dress, but one of her own. Something sparkly and bold. "It's been three weeks. You can't let one bad night ruin your entire social life."

"I can and I will." It was Friday night, and Kate had been campaigning all week for a return to Voltage. Julia had been resisting just as hard. The mysterious texts had stopped after that first night, but she couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. Walking to class, she'd catch glimpses of expensive cars moving too slowly. In the library, she'd feel eyes on her. Always watching. Never approaching. It was driving her crazy. "Ash is going," Kate wheedled. "And his girlfriend Maya. And a whole group from his building. Safety in numbers! Plus, you loved dancing before the Mikal thing. Don't let him take that from you too." Julia wavered. She had loved dancing. Loved the freedom of losing herself in music, the anonymity of a crowd. And Kate was right—she couldn't hide forever.

"Fine," she heard herself say. "But we stay together. No wandering off. And we leave if I say leave." "Deal!" Kate practically bounced with excitement. "This is going to be great. You'll see." Two hours later, Julia wasn't so sure. Standing in line outside Voltage again, she felt like she was tempting fate. The bass thundered from inside, achingly familiar. Marco was at the door again, recognizing Kate with a warm smile. "Katie! Back again? Where's your friend—" He spotted Julia and his smile widened. "There she is. Someone's been asking about you." Julia's stomach dropped. "What?" But Marco was already waving them through, and the music swallowed her question. Inside, Voltage was exactly as she remembered—pulsing lights, writhing bodies, the intoxicating smell of expensive alcohol and expensive people. Kate grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the bar where Ash and Maya were waiting.

"Julia!" Ash, a lanky guy with kind eyes and an infectious grin, pulled her into a hug. "Kate's told me so much about you. This is Maya." Maya was petite and bubbly, immediately launching into a story about their Uber driver's questionable GPS choices. Julia found herself relaxing slightly, laughing at the right moments, accepting a drink from Ash without overthinking it. Maybe this would be okay. Maybe she could reclaim this space, make new memories that didn't involve Mikal or mysterious texts or—

"Holy shit," Ash breathed, staring at something over Julia's shoulder. "Is that Don Massimo?" Julia didn't want to turn around. Didn't want to confirm what she already knew. But her body moved without permission, and there he was. Don Massimo Valentino descended the stairs from VIP like he owned the club. Which, Kate had mentioned once, he probably did. He wore all black—suit, shirt, even his tie—making him look like a living shadow. Dangerous and elegant in equal measure. And he was looking directly at Julia.

"We should go," Kate said urgently, tugging Julia's arm. "Right now." But Julia couldn't move. Couldn't look away. Massimo's dark eyes held hers across the crowded club, and slowly—deliberately—he smiled. It was a predator's smile. All teeth and dark promise. He started walking toward them. "Seriously, we need to leave," Kate insisted, but her voice sounded distant, underwater. Massimo moved through the crowd like Moses parting the Red Sea. People stepped aside without being asked, drawn by some invisible authority. His security followed at a discrete distance, muscled men in suits who screamed danger. He stopped directly in front of Julia. Up close, he was even more intimidating—tall enough that she had to tilt her head back to meet his eyes, broad-shouldered, and radiating a kind of power that made her knees weak.

"Julia Morrison," he said, and his voice was like smoke—dark, rich, surrounding her. "We finally meet properly."

"How do you know my name?" Her voice came out steadier than she felt.

"I know everything about you." He said it like a fact, not a boast.

"Twenty years old. Freshman at Christian university, education major. Homeschooled until college. Parents are Richard and Margaret Morrison, missionaries. You have one younger brother, Thomas." Terror and fascination warred in Julia's chest.

"You've been stalking me." "Researching," Massimo corrected. "There's a difference." "Not really," Kate interjected, finally finding her voice. She stepped slightly in front of Julia, protective despite being half Massimo's size. "Look, we're not interested. We were just leaving." Massimo's eyes flickered to Kate with mild amusement, like a lion noticing a particularly brave mouse.

"I'm not talking to you." His gaze returned to Julia, intense and unwavering. "Dance with me." It wasn't a question.

"I don't think—" Julia started.

"One dance," Massimo interrupted. "Then I'll let your protective friend drag you away. Though we both know you'll come back."

"I won't," Julia said, but it sounded weak even to her own ears. Massimo extended his hand, palm up, waiting. Everything about his posture suggested he was used to getting what he wanted. That refusal wasn't something he encountered often. Julia should walk away. Should listen to every instinct screaming danger. Should remember Kate's warnings about powerful men and organized crime. Instead, she took his hand. His fingers closed around hers, warm and strong, and he pulled her onto the dance floor with confident authority. The music shifted—slower, more sensual—and Massimo drew her close. Not inappropriately close, but close enough that she could smell his cologne. Something expensive and intoxicating.

"You're not afraid of me," he observed, not a question.

"Should I be?" "Probably." His hand settled on her lower back, guiding her into the rhythm of the music. "I'm not a good man, Julia. I won't pretend to be."

"Then why—"

"Because from the moment I saw you, I knew you were mine." He said it simply, like discussing the weather. "I've been patient. Gave you time to get that other one out of your system. But my patience has limits." Julia's heart hammered. "You knew about…..?"

"I know he touched what belongs to me."

"I'm not yours," Julia protested, but her voice shook. Massimo leaned down, his lips brushing her ear.

"Not yet. But you will be. Because I'm not like him, dolcezza. When I take something, I keep it." The song ended, but Massimo didn't release her. His dark eyes searched her face, reading things she didn't want him to see.

"One week," he said finally, stepping back.

"I'll give you one week to come to me on your own. After that..." He smiled that dangerous smile again.

"After that, I come for you." Then he was gone, melting back into the VIP section, leaving Julia standing on the dance floor with her pulse racing and her mind reeling. Kate appeared instantly, grabbing her arm. "We're leaving. Now." This time, Julia didn't argue.