Kate's POV:

"Bye!" I yelled out to the guys as they headed for the door, their laughter and playful bickering filling the grand hall. The sound echoed in the vast mansion, making it feel less lonely for a moment. They were off to work—what work, I wasn't sure. But considering the late hour, it had to be something that couldn't wait until morning.

Michen had dropped off a few clothes for me earlier in the week. Tomorrow, they planned to take me shopping, a thought that filled me with equal parts dread and embarrassment. Shopping wasn't something I looked forward to. My mother never bought me clothes, so I'd always settled for what little I could afford—basic, dollar-store outfits. The thought of stepping into a high-end boutique with Lucio and his gang made my stomach twist.

I groaned, leaning against the bathroom sink as I turned the faucet handle for the third time. Not a single drop of water came out. "Are you kidding me?" I muttered to myself, slamming the handle back down in frustration. After checking every bathroom in the mansion, it became clear there was no running water anywhere. Well, except for one place—Lucio's suite.

This was a bad idea, a really bad idea, but what choice did I have? I tiptoed into his room, the sheer size and luxury of it making me feel even smaller. The dark wood furniture, the sleek black-and-gold decor, and the faint scent of sandalwood and leather all screamed "Lucio." Guilt tugged at me as I slipped into his bathroom, hoping he wouldn't come home anytime soon.

The hot water cascading over my body was pure bliss, soothing the tension in my muscles. I reached for the peach-scented shampoo I'd brought with me and worked it into my hair, inhaling the comforting fragrance. For a moment, I forgot where I was and let myself relax.

But as I turned off the water and reached for the towel, my hand brushed against something—no, someone. My heart dropped into my stomach as I felt the distinct outline of a face beneath my fingers. My hand froze before trailing downward, landing on something undeniably solid.

"Lucio!" I gasped, yanking my hand away as though it had been burned. My cheeks flushed crimson as I grabbed for the towel, hastily wrapping it around me before stepping out of the shower. I kept my gaze fixed on the floor, too embarrassed to meet his eyes.

"I know you said I should never step into your room," I began, words spilling out in a frantic rush, "but there wasn't any water anywhere else, and I thought you wouldn't be back until late."

I dared a glance upward, only to be met with the sight of Lucio standing there, shirtless and impossibly smug. His eyes were dark with amusement, and his lips curled into a smirk that made my blood boil.

"And yet here you are," he drawled, folding his arms across his chest.

"I'm leaving now," I mumbled, spinning on my heel in a desperate attempt to flee. But my luck ran out as I slipped on the wet tiles, my feet flying out from under me. A startled yelp escaped my lips, and I braced myself for impact.

Instead of hitting the cold, hard floor, I found myself cradled in his strong arms. My breath hitched as I looked up, meeting those piercing green eyes. For a moment, the world seemed to stand still. The usual coldness in his gaze was replaced by something softer, something I couldn't quite place.

"You're so clumsy, Kate," he muttered, his voice low and almost teasing. His arms tightened around me, and I couldn't ignore the heat radiating from his body.

"I-I..." My voice faltered; the words caught in my throat. My heart pounded in my chest, loud enough that I was sure he could hear it.

"Use your words," he said, a hint of amusement lacing his tone. His gaze flickered to my lips before returning to my eyes, and I swore I felt my knees turn to jelly.

He gently set me back on my feet, but my embarrassment wasn't over. As I tried to regain my balance, the towel slipped from my grasp, falling to the floor in a humiliating display. My hands flew to cover myself, but Lucio was faster. He picked up the towel and wrapped it around me with surprising care.

"You look beautiful," he said, his voice dropping an octave. "With or without a towel."

My jaw dropped, and I glared at him, my face burning with humiliation. "You're unbelievable!" I snapped, storming toward the door. But just as I reached it, his hand shot out to grab my arm.

"You know," he whispered, his breath warm against my neck, "I could have you right here, right now, just to hear you scream my name. But you're too innocent for that, aren't you?"

I froze, my skin prickling with equal parts anger and something I didn't want to name. Before I could respond, he released me, walking back toward the bathroom with an infuriating smirk.

I stomped out of his room, slamming the door behind me. "Arrogant, insufferable jerk!" I muttered under my breath as I climbed the stairs to my room. Once inside, I slammed that door too, leaning against it as I tried to steady my breathing.

"Why does he have to be so... so infuriating?!" I yelled, kicking at the air. Changing into a tank top and pajama shorts, I flopped onto the bed, trying to push the entire encounter out of my mind.

But sleep didn't come easily. After tossing and turning for what felt like hours, I gave up. "Maybe a movie will help," I muttered, grabbing a blanket and heading downstairs.

The living room was dark and empty, the massive TV casting a faint glow over the sleek furniture. I grabbed the remote and settled onto the couch, scrolling through the options until I landed on The Hitman. I'd never seen a movie like this before, but it seemed like a good distraction.

Halfway through the movie, I decided I needed popcorn. I paused the film and headed to the kitchen, tossing a bag of popcorn into the microwave. The quiet hum of the appliance was oddly soothing—until I turned around and saw Lucio standing there.

"Move," he said, his tone clipped.

"Aaahhh!" I jumped, nearly dropping the popcorn as my heart leapt into my throat. "Don't sneak up on people like that!"

"This is my house," he said dryly. "Why would I sneak up on you?" His gaze shifted to my pajamas, and his brow furrowed. "What the hell are you wearing?"

I crossed my arms, glaring at him. "Pajamas. Is that a problem?"

"It is when you're walking around dressed like that in front of my men," he snapped. "You're not to wear this outside your room again."

I rolled my eyes, muttering, "No one's here, Lucio."

"Move," he repeated, ignoring my protest. "The movie's starting."

"Why don't you just move me yourself?" I shot back, annoyed.

"Because shooting you would be easier," he said with a smirk, making himself comfortable on the couch.

Despite his infuriating presence, we ended up watching the movie together. His occasional comments and critiques were surprisingly entertaining, and for a brief moment, I forgot how much he annoyed me. But as the credits rolled, exhaustion finally caught up to me. My head grew heavy, and before I knew it, I'd drifted off, my head resting on his lap.

"Hey, wake up," his voice jolted me awake, his hand gently shaking my shoulder.

"Mmm... up," I mumbled, barely coherent.

Before I could fully process what was happening, he scooped me into his arms and carried me upstairs. The warmth of his body and the steady rhythm of his steps lulled me back into a half-asleep state.

He laid me down on my bed, pulling the blanket over me. Just as he turned to leave, he hesitated. The bed dipped slightly as he sat beside me, brushing a strand of hair from my face.

"What have you done to me, Kate?" He murmured, his voice barely audible.

And with that, he left, leaving me to fall into the most peaceful sleep I'd had in years.

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the curtains, pulling me from the deepest sleep I'd had in years. I stretched lazily, the memory of the previous night flooding back with an almost dreamlike quality. My heart fluttered at the thought of Lucio's surprising gentleness, but I shook it off. No. He was still arrogant, insufferable, and dangerous. Whatever moment of vulnerability he'd shown, I couldn't let it distract me.

I pushed myself out of bed and padded to the bathroom to freshen up. The cool water against my face was refreshing, but my mind was already racing. Today was the dreaded shopping trip, and I wasn't ready for it—not mentally, not emotionally, and certainly not financially.

As I came downstairs, I was greeted by the smell of freshly brewed coffee and the sound of Michen and Jordan bickering in the kitchen. The scene was oddly domestic, a stark contrast to the chaotic lives these men seemed to lead.

"I'm telling you, you can't boil eggs in the microwave," Jordan was saying, his tone exasperated.

"Well, I just did," Michen replied smugly, holding up a bowl with a cracked, rubbery mess of what might have been an egg.

I couldn't help but laugh. "You two are hopeless."

"Kate!" Jordan beamed, abandoning the argument to pour me a cup of coffee. "Good morning, princess. Sleep well?"

I hesitated, memories of Lucio carrying me to bed flashing in my mind. "Yeah," I said quickly, taking the coffee. "Thanks."

"Big day today!" Steven announced as he strode into the kitchen, looking far too cheerful for this hour. "Ready to hit the shops?"

"Not really," I muttered, taking a sip of coffee. The thought of parading around with them in public was daunting. People would stare, whisper, and judge—it was inevitable when you were in the company of men like them.

"Relax," Steven said, ruffling my hair like I was a kid. "It's just a little shopping."

"For you, maybe," I shot back. "For me, it's like walking into the lion's den."

"Don't worry," Michen added with a smirk. "We'll protect you from the wild lions of the boutique jungle."

"Very funny," I said, rolling my eyes.

As the morning went on, the guys were surprisingly patient, waiting while I got ready and even giving me space to breathe. When Lucio finally emerged, dressed impeccably as always, his presence sucked all the air out of the room.

His green eyes landed on me, scanning my outfit—simple jeans and a T-shirt Michen had brought me. For a moment, I thought I saw approval flicker in his gaze, but it was gone as quickly as it came.

"We're leaving in ten," he said curtly, his tone all business.