I GAVE ONE NIGHT TO A FEARED MAFIA BOSS - THEN HE LEFT ONE WORD ON MY PILLOW,
PART 2
The delivery boy swore he did not know who sent the black roses.
He said the cash tip had already been paid.
He said a man in gloves gave him the address and told him not to ask questions.
That should have been the strangest part.
It wasn’t.
The strangest part was Luca’s face when he saw the flowers.
He did not touch them.
He did not raise his voice.
He just stared at the bouquet like he recognized the message before I did.
I asked him what was wrong.
He said, “These are not for romance.”
Then he looked at the stripped thorns and added, “This is how men warn each other when they want a woman frightened, but still untouched.”
My stomach dropped so hard I had to grab the counter.
I asked who would do that.
He did not answer me directly.
Instead, he asked a question that made the whole room feel smaller.
“Did you tell anyone about me before the gala.”
I should have said no right away.
But one name hit me like broken glass.
Daniel.
My ex.
The man who once smiled while deciding which parts of my life belonged to him.
The man I had not seen in months.
The man who knew exactly how much I hated being watched.
Luca saw it on my face before I spoke.
That was when his jaw locked.
Not with jealousy.
With recognition.
He asked for the full name.
I gave it.
He went completely still.
Then he said something that made the black roses feel harmless compared to what was coming next.
“I know who he sells information to.”
I stared at him.
“Information about who?”
He looked toward the window like he was already calculating how many lies had been told around me before I ever met him.
Then he said, “You were never supposed to cross my path by accident.”
May you like
And that was the moment I realized our one night had not begun at the gala.
It had started long before I ever knew his name.
