I stood abruptly, accidentally knocking her back a step. She looked up at me, wide-eyed, and I hated that it made my heart twist. I needed to get the hell out of here before I did something stupid.
Without another word, I turned on my heel and strode to the door, throwing it open. This time, I left it ajar, letting her know that her captivity was now more psychological than physical. The necklace would see to that.
As I walked away, I could still feel the phantom warmth of her skin against my fingers, the heat of her breath on my face.
I needed to get control over whatever this odd fixation was. Because right now, it was a distraction. And distractions got people killed.
Raisedvoices greeted me as I stepped into my office. Jareth’s smooth, sardonic tone cut through first, tinged with his usual humor.
“I’m just saying, Luca, if you smiled even once, the universe might implode. What are you hiding under that permanent scowl? No sense of humor left to assassinate, huh?”
Luca, standing as rigid as always, shot back with barely restrained irritation. “This isn’t a joke. You think everything is a game, but people’s lives are at stake.”
Jareth didn’t even flinch. His golden-brown eyes glinted with amusement, the faintest flicker of feline mischief evident as his gaze raked over Luca. His posture, as always, screamed unbothered confidence as he leaned against the bookshelf, a deliberate foil to Luca’s coiled tension.
I paused in the doorway, my irritation growing. Jareth was a fucking handful, but he was a predator honed to perfection. He was a skilled assassin—there was no denying that. He was so good at it, in fact, that he still took on contracts from other wealthy assholes in The Below. Jareth would take out anyone as long as he was paid handsomely, and most wouldn’t even blink at his price tag. He was the best. Period.
That’s why I’d been grooming him, slowly giving him more access to the inner workings of my estate. In contrast, Luca was steadfast and competent, but he belonged to two worlds now, splitting his time between my territory and Vincenzo’s. It wasn’t a bad arrangement. In fact, it had its uses, but it also divided Luca.
The argument in front of me was a perfect example of their contrasts. Jareth, ever the provocateur, relished poking at Luca’s rigid discipline, while Luca refused to bend even an inch. It was almost amusing.
Almost.
I cleared my throat, and the two instantly fell silent. Two pairs of eyes turned to me, one cool and detached, the other sharp and calculating. I strode to my desk, my expressionimpassive as I took my seat, though I couldn’t keep the irritation entirely from my voice.
“I wasn’t aware I scheduled a comedy show,” I said flatly. “If you’re done bickering like children, perhaps we can get to the point of why you’re both in my office.”
Jareth smirked but said nothing, his sharp features lit with that infuriating charm that only made people want to punch him more. Luca, to his credit, simply straightened further, his arms crossing over his chest in his usual stance.
I turned my attention to Luca. “I was expecting Jareth. Did we have an appointment?”
“No,” Luca said. “I just wanted to check in.”
“Check in,” I repeated, leaning back in my chair. I tapped my fingers idly against the desk as I regarded him. Luca’s intentions were rarely suspect—his character, for all its flaws, was solid. But his connection to Vincenzo was an open secret. One I allowed because it didn’t affect me negatively, and because Luca’s sense of loyalty to those he deemed worthy was, at times, inconveniently rigid. He was trustworthy where it counted, but not wholly loyal—not to me.
“Well, since you’re here,” I said, gesturing to the chairs in front of my desk, “what’s the status of your assignment?”
Luca didn’t sit. “Still gathering intel. There are new leads I’ll be following up on.”
I nodded, though the answer didn’t satisfy me.
“And I’m working to figure out who,” Luca said, his tone steady but firm.
“You’ll need to work faster,” I said coldly, letting the edge of my words hang in the air.
Jareth chose that moment to chime in. “Good thing I’m here to pick up the slack, then.”
Luca’s jaw tightened, his gaze snapping to Jareth, then back to me. “I don’t think that’s wise, sir. Jareth is… unpredictable.”
“Unpredictable gets results,” Jareth said. “You should try it sometime, Luca. Might loosen you up.”
Luca ignored the jab, but the tension in his shoulders didn’t ease. I raised a hand, silencing them before the argument could escalate. “Jareth’s methods may be unconventional, but they are effective. I don’t need a lecture on trust, Luca. I’ll make my own decisions.”
Luca didn’t respond immediately, but I saw the faintest hint of discomfort in his expression. Good. He needed to know where things stood. Jareth was unpredictable, yes, but he was also focused, brilliant, and dangerous in the ways I required. He was my gamble—a calculated risk that, so far, had paid off.
“Anything else to report?” I asked Luca.
“Word is spreading,” he said finally. “The Ashen faction is showing an interest in your territory. And, as always, there are rumors about the entire territory being one massive illusion.”
