Chapter 1
THE WOMAN BEHIND THE NAME
AMARA’S POV
Atlanta, Georgia
Friday, 8:47 PM
The thing about living in Atlanta was that everybody knew somebody.
And sometimes, knowing the wrong somebody could cost you your life.
I just never thought those words would have anything to do with me.
I was twenty-five years old, independent, and perfectly comfortable with the little life I’d built for myself. I had my own apartment, my own money, and absolutely no interest in being anybody’s responsibility.
Men were complicated enough.
Dangerous men?
I wanted no parts of them.
At least, that’s what I thought.
“Amara!”
I looked up from my phone as my best friend, Sienna, practically threw herself onto my couch.
“Girl, what’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing. I’m bored.”
“That’s not my problem.”
She rolled her eyes. “You are so irritating.”
“And yet, here you are.”
She grabbed one of my throw pillows and hugged it against her chest.
“We’re going out tonight.”
I didn’t even look up.
“No.”
“Amara.”
“Sienna.”
“Please?”
“No.”
“There’s going to be some fine men there.”
“There’s fine men everywhere. That doesn’t mean I need to entertain them.”
She stared at me.
“You’re twenty-five, not eighty-five.”
I laughed despite myself.
“Fine. Let me get dressed.”
“THAT’S WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT!”
I shook my head as she jumped up.
If only I’d known that agreeing to one night out would change everything.
9:56 PM — Downtown Atlanta
The club was packed.
Music shook the walls, women danced beneath flashing lights, and expensive bottles covered nearly every table.
Sienna was already on her second drink.
Me?
I was watching people.
Something about the atmosphere felt different tonight.
Maybe it was the number of security guards stationed around the VIP section. Maybe it was the way people seemed to move aside whenever a particular group walked through.
Or maybe I was just being paranoid.
“Stop looking around like somebody’s after you,” Sienna shouted over the music.
“I’m observing.”
“You’re being weird.”
I laughed and took another sip of my drink.
Then the entire atmosphere shifted.
I noticed it before I even turned around.
Men in black suits entered through the side entrance. Their expressions were serious, their eyes constantly moving.
And then he walked in.
Tall.
Broad shoulders.
Black tailored suit.
A silver watch around his wrist.
His face was calm, almost emotionless, but there was something about him that made people uncomfortable.
Not because he was loud.
Because he didn’t have to be.
He walked like he owned every room he entered.
“Who is THAT?” Sienna whispered.
I shrugged.
“Somebody with money.”
She gave me a look.
“Girl, that’s not just somebody with money.”
I turned away.
“Well, whoever he is, he isn’t my business.”
Except, apparently, fate had other plans.
Because when I looked back toward the VIP section, his eyes were already on me.
And he wasn’t looking away.
Not once.
LUCA’S POV
I hated crowded rooms.
Too many people. Too many conversations. Too many opportunities for somebody to make a mistake.
But tonight, I had business to handle.
“Mr. Moretti.”
I glanced at my head of security.
“What?”
“Your meeting is ready.”
“In a minute.”
He followed my gaze.
I could tell he noticed the woman standing near the bar.
“Would you like me to find out who she is?”
I looked at him.
“Did I ask you to?”
“No, sir.”
“Then don’t.”
I returned my attention to the woman.
She wasn’t dressed like she was trying to get anybody’s attention. She wasn’t throwing herself around the room or looking for approval.
She was simply existing.
And somehow, that caught my attention more than anything else in the building.
I had spent years learning how to read people.
But her?
I couldn’t figure her out.
“Find out her name,” I finally said.
My security chief nodded.
“Anything else?”
I took a slow sip of my drink.
“No.”
I paused.
“And make sure nobody bothers her.”
AMARA’S POV
I was getting ready to leave when somebody stepped beside me.
“Excuse me, miss.”
I turned.
A man in a black suit stood there.
“Yes?”
“The gentleman in the VIP section would like to meet you.”
I looked past him.
The mysterious man was still watching me.
I laughed softly.
“Well, tell the gentleman I’m flattered, but I’m leaving.”
The security guard seemed surprised.
“Are you sure?”
“Very.”
I grabbed my purse and turned toward Sienna.
“Come on. We’re going.”
She looked at me like I’d lost my mind.
“Girl, do you know who that man is?”
“Nope. And I’m not interested.”
We made our way toward the exit.
But just before I reached the door, I heard a deep voice behind me.
“You’re leaving without introducing yourself?”
I stopped.
Slowly, I turned around.
He was standing close enough for me to see the details of his face.
Dark eyes.
Sharp jawline.
A faint scar near his eyebrow.
He was even more intimidating up close.
I raised an eyebrow.
“Do I know you?”
One corner of his mouth lifted.
“Not yet.”
“Well, have a good night.”
I started walking again.
He chuckled.
“What’s your name?”
I looked over my shoulder.
“Why?”
“Because I’d like to know it.”
I smiled politely.
“Then I guess you’ll have to keep wondering.”
For the first time that evening, he actually smiled.
And Lord, that smile was dangerous.
I walked away before I could change my mind.
LUCA’S POV
I watched her disappear through the doors.
My security chief approached.
“Should I get her information?”
I adjusted my watch.
“No.”
He looked confused.
“No, sir?”
I shook my head.
“I’ll see her again.”
He nodded, but I could tell he wanted to ask something.
I didn’t give him the opportunity.
Because there was something about that woman.
Something I couldn’t explain.
And I didn’t like not knowing things.
My phone vibrated.
One message.
UNKNOWN NUMBER
We have a problem. Someone knows about the shipment.
My smile disappeared.
I read the message twice.
Then another message came through.
And Luca… they know about the girl.
I slowly lifted my eyes toward the club entrance.
The woman I’d just met.
Amara.
Who the hell was she?
And why was somebody already connecting her name to mine?
