“Meet me for dinner tomorrow,” he said, his gaze steady.It wasn’t a request; it was an invitation she couldn’t refuse.“Please.”
The word slipped out before she could think.“Yes.”
The next evening, Max took her to a French restaurant that seemed plucked from the streets of Paris.The ambiance was intimate, with soft candlelight and the scent of freshly baked bread wafting through the air.Max had reserved a table tucked into a quiet corner, and Lexie felt like the only woman in the world as they talked and laughed over wine and exquisitely prepared dishes.He was charming and attentive, asking questions that made her feel seen in a way she hadn’t felt in years.Yet, beneath the surface of his charm, there was an edge to him, a quiet sense of control and strength that made her feel both safe and slightly nervous.
By the time dessert arrived—a decadent chocolate soufflé—she was completely enamored.When he walked her to her car, she almost didn’t want the night to end.But Max didn’t push, didn’t try to rush anything.He simply smiled, his dark eyes warm and promising, but there was an undercurrent of possession in his gaze that sent a thrill down her spine.
“Lunch tomorrow?”he asked, his voice low and filled with quiet authority.
She nodded, unable to resist the pull of him.“Lunch tomorrow.”
The next day, they met at a little café near Pike Place Market, the salty breeze from the Sound mingling with the aroma of fresh coffee.Lexie felt like a teenager again, giddy and nervous as Max held the door for her, his hand brushing lightly against her back.They spent hours talking, losing track of time as the conversation wandered from lighthearted anecdotes to deeper topics about life, dreams, and fears.And then, as they walked along the waterfront after the meal, he stopped suddenly.
“Lexie,” he said, his voice softer now, but still carrying that commanding edge that made her heart race.
She turned to him, her heart pounding as he stepped closer.His hands were warm as they gently cupped her face, his gaze searching hers for the briefest moment before he leaned in.The kiss was soft, almost tentative at first, but it deepened as Lexie melted into him, gripping the front of his shirt.When they finally pulled apart, she was breathless, her heart soaring.
It was the beginning of something magical.Over the next two months, they were inseparable, spending every moment they could together.Max was attentive and generous, planning romantic dinners, spontaneous brunches, and quiet evenings at exclusive restaurants.He seemed genuinely interested in her world, even showing up at her school one afternoon with lunch for them and supplies for her students.Yet, beneath his kindness and affection, there was always an unshakable confidence, an air of control that seemed to surround him like a second skin.It was intoxicating and a little frightening all at once.
Lexie had never felt so cherished, so utterly adored.Max made her feel like she was his world, and in many ways, she believed him.But there was also a part of her that sensed he held something back, something he wasn’t ready to share.She fell hard.Max was everything she hadn’t known she was looking for—strong, kind, and deeply passionate.She found herself daydreaming about him during her free periods, doodling his name absentmindedly in the margins of her notebooks like a silly school girl.For the first time in years, she allowed herself to hope, to imagine a future that wasn’t just her, alone in her little cottage.
For a while, Lexie almost believed she could forget the shadows in his world.
But then it all came crashing down.
The memory of that day was still vivid, the details seared into her mind.She’d been at Max’s penthouse in downtown Seattle, waiting for him to finish a phone call.The conversation had been heated, his tone sharp and commanding in a way she’d never heard before.Curiosity had gotten the better of her, and she’d wandered into his study, a room she hadn’t entered before.
The desk was immaculate, every paper and object precisely arranged.But a single document had been left open, its bold header catching her eye: “Northwest Syndicate Financials.”Her brow furrowed as she scanned the page, the words blurring together as the truth began to dawn on her.
The truth began to dawn on her—sharp, terrifying, and impossible to ignore.Max’s business wasn’t just logistics.He wasn’t just a successful businessman.He was the head of a mafia organization.The man she’d fallen in love with was deeply entrenched in a world of crime and power, a world she’d sworn to avoid after growing up under the shadow of her abusive father, a mafia soldier himself.
Her breath caught in her throat, and she stumbled away from the desk, the weight of her discovery threatening to crush her.Max had walked in moments later, his expression softening when he saw her.
“Hey,” he said, his voice warm and steady, but as always, there was an underlying firmness that brooked no argument.“You okay?”
Lexie couldn’t answer.The words were lodged in her throat, her thoughts racing with a thousand questions and fears.Max’s gaze dropped to the desk, and understanding dawned in his eyes.His jaw tightened, but he said nothing, waiting for her to speak.
“You lied to me,” she finally whispered, her voice trembling.
Max took a step closer, his hands outstretched as if to calm her.“Lexie, it’s not what you think.”
“It’sexactlywhat I think,” she shot back, unexpected rage cutting through her shock.“You’re in the mafia.You’re just like my father.”
The emotion that flashed across his face almost made her falter, but she held her ground.
“I’m nothing like your father,” Max said firmly.
“You’re still part of it,” she stammered, shaking her head.“I can’t… I can’t be part of this.I can’t be with someone who—”
“Lexie,” Max interrupted, reaching for her, but she flinched away.
Tears blurred her vision as she stepped back, her heart shattering with every inch of distance she put between them.“I can’t live like this.I won’t.”
And then she had turned on her heel and walked out.She’d cried for days, mourning the loss of the love she’d dared to dream of, the man she’d dared to love.Even now, the ache lingered, a constant reminder of what could have been and what would never be.
Chapter 3
Lexie’sheelsclickedagainstthe polished floor, each step a calculated move to unsettle Enzo.She knew exactly what she was doing, and the way his jaw tightened confirmed it was working.It was a small rebellion against the ridiculous dress he’d forced her to wear.
