Prologue

Zachary's eyes flicker towards the click clack of her footsteps. The sound instantly grabs his attention, his body jerking instinctively towards it. And when he finally sees her, the sight takes his breath away.

She was a vision of effortless, cold beauty. The way the black fabric clung perfectly to her figure, emphasizing all her curves and drawing his eyes towards her perfect body. The accessories and makeup only added to the aura of power and glamour that surrounded her. He can't take his eyes off her. Her presence at the ball felt like an invitation just for him. The sight of her makes his breath catch in his throat. He's unable to look away, his eyes tracing every curve and detail of her figure. She looked like a goddess, a dangerous, alluring embodiment of power and beauty. The sight of her dressed in the elegant suit, with her hair flowing in loose waves, makes his chest clench with desire. She was a vision, a temptation that he was powerless to resist.

He starts moving towards her, his body drawn to her magnetically. He can feel the need to touch her, to have her in his arms again, like a physical ache within him. He pushes through the people around him, his eyes never leaving her form as he makes his way towards her. Every step he takes further strengthens his desire, his eyes narrowing like those of a predator zeroing in on its prey.

He can't wait a moment longer. He needs to have her, to claim her as his own again. As he pushes through the crowd towards her, he finds himself swarmed by the other mafiosos in attendance. They all try to get a word with him, to get on his good side and earn his favor. Most of them were trying to secure an alliance or a deal with him through the night. But he wasn't paying attention to any of them, his gaze fixated entirely on her across the room. He grits his teeth, impatience surging through him as he tries to brush off the people trying to monopolize his time.

Samantha's gaze moves around as they land on him as the corner of her lips twitch to form a smirk. A challenge to him. The sight of her mouth curving up causes a jolt of tension to ripple through his body. Her gaze on him combined with her smirk, makes him feel like she's taunting him, silently daring him to come and claim her.

He clenches his jaw, his hands balling into fists at his sides. The need to have her in his arms again was almost maddening. Zachary feels almost feral, the need to grab her and drag her away from the crowd, away from the gazes of everyone else. He wants to have her all to himself, to hold her and keep her close where he can keep her from ever leaving again. But the people around him, trying to get his attention, keep him from her. He tries to push through them, but the persistent mafiosos keep trying to stop him from reaching her.

Samantha holds his gaze, watching the way his irritation deepens, the way his eyes darken with something almost predatory. A low silent chuckle escapes her lips as she turns on her heels and she walks away, her movements slow, deliberate and with an effortless grace.

The sight of her walking away makes a low growl rumble out from him. His eyes follow her, watching as she moves away towards the other side of the venue. The thought of her escaping again, eluding him once more, sets his blood boiling. His need to have her back in his arms, to have her under his control, almost overwhelming.

He pushes roughly past the people around him, a feral rage building within him as he forces his way to the spot where she was just standing, only to find her gone. He looks around, his eyes wild as he scans the crowd, desperately trying to spot her. But he doesn't see her. The thought of her having vanished again makes him want to explode. He grits his teeth, a wave of furious frustration coursing through him.

He pushes his way through the crowd, his eyes darting around, searching for any hint of her. The thought of her having slipped from his grasp again makes him feel like he's losing his mind. He scans the room frantically, looking for any sign of her. His heart hammering wildly in his chest, desperation making him want to grab every person there and shake them for information.

"Where are you, damn it?", his voice comes in a low possessive growl.