Isadora The silence stretched between us, thick and suffocating. Luca was watching me, waiting for me to break. I could feel the weight of his stare, the steady burn of it against my skin, but I refused to look at him. Instead, I sat at the edge of my bed, staring at the wall, pretending like he wasn’t there.It had been two days since our last conversation. Two days since he told me I was his, whether I liked it or not. And for those two days, I hadn’t spoken a single word to him.At first, he acted like it didn’t bother him. But Luca was the kind of man who thrived on control, and my silence? It was the one thing he couldn’t command.So he started testing me.He lingered too close when he didn’t have to. Brushed past me in the hallway when there was more than enough space. Spoke in that low, teasing voice of his, just to see if he could get a reaction.And now, standing by the door, he was doing it again.“You’re really gonna keep this up, huh?” His voice was casual, but I could he
Isadora I didn’t sleep.Not because I was afraid of what Luca would do, but because I was afraid of what he wouldn’t.There was something about the way he looked at me tonight, like he was waiting. Like he was daring me to keep pushing. And I would.Because I wasn’t like Alicia.I wasn’t going to die just because I trusted the wrong person.And maybe that’s what scared me the most because the longer I was around Luca, the more I realized I did trust him.And I hated that.Next morning I was at the breakfast table when he walked in, looking infuriatingly unbothered. Like last night hadn’t happened. Like he hadn’t caught me in his office and warned me in that deadly voice of his.He poured himself a coffee, glancing at me as he took a sip.“You look tired.”I ignored him.He chuckled, shaking his head. “Still on the silent treatment, huh?”I stabbed at my food.Luca leaned against the counter, watching me with that unreadable expression. “Alright, princesa. I’ll play along. Let’s see
Isadora I didn’t want to be doing this. But the need to know was gnawing at me, pulling me deeper into a place I wasn’t sure I could come back from. The moment Laura opened her laptop, I felt that familiar weight settle over me. She might’ve been my best friend, but she couldn’t understand what it was like to live in a world of secrets and half-truths. I didn’t want her dragged into this, but I didn’t know how to do it alone. “So, what are we looking for exactly?” Laura asked, her fingers already flying across the keyboard. I leaned forward, trying to ignore the tension in my chest. “Anything. Anything that links my dad’s company to Luca, or… anything strange that happened recently. There has to be a connection.” Laura shot me a look but didn’t ask questions. I could tell she wanted to—wanted to demand more answers—but we both knew there were limits to what I could share. Her fingers paused for a moment. “You think your dad’s been involved in anything illegal?” “I don’t know,”
Luca I wasn’t surprised when Isadora started digging. I’d known she would. Her curiosity was like a magnet, pulling her deeper into the very things I needed her to stay away from. I had expected her to find something—there was no way I could’ve kept her in the dark forever. But what I hadn’t expected was for her to go this deep.She was smarter than I gave her credit for.As I watched her across the room, her eyes burning with the knowledge she’d uncovered, I could tell she was pissed. It was written all over her—her rigid posture, the way her jaw clenched when she looked at me. She was angry, but more than that, she was unsettled. And I liked that. I knew she hated being in the dark, hated the feeling of being out of control. It was the one thing I had over her—the one thing I could use to keep her in line. But even that was slipping.She had found the offshore accounts, the hidden investments, the connection between her father’s company and the money laundering. I’d made sure of it
ISADORAI could still feel him.The imprint of Luca’s lips on mine, the rough press of his hands against my skin, it lingered like a brand I couldn’t shake. Even now, back in my room, with the door shut and my heart still beating too fast, I felt caged in by the memory.I touched my lips absently, pacing. I wasn’t supposed to kiss him back. I wasn’t supposed to want it. But when he closed the distance between us, when his hand brushed my face, I had melted into it like it was inevitable.And the worst part? It hadn’t felt like a mistake.I exhaled sharply, frustration curling through me. Luca was dangerous. Not just because of the secrets he kept or the way he controlled everything around him, but because of what he made me feel. I hated being in the dark, but I hated the way he made me crave his touch even more.The sound of my phone vibrating snapped me out of my thoughts.I grabbed it off the nightstand, half expecting it to be Luca, but my stomach knotted when I saw the unknown nu
ISADORALuca tensed the moment he saw Rafael’s face. Whatever he was about to say, I knew it wasn’t good.“They left a message,” Rafael said, his voice clipped.Luca’s jaw tightened. “What kind of message?”Rafael glanced at me, hesitating. That was all the confirmation I needed—it was bad, and it involved me.He exhaled sharply. “They know about her, Luca. About you. And they’re not done.”My pulse spiked. “What does that mean?”Rafael pulled out his phone, tapping the screen before turning it to face us. My stomach dropped.A picture. Of me. From tonight.At the docks.My breath hitched as I took a step closer, my eyes locked on the grainy image. It wasn’t a random shot. It was deliberate. Proof.“They were watching,” Rafael said. “The whole damn time.”Luca’s expression darkened. His hand curled into a fist at his side, but his voice was eerily calm. “And?”Rafael swiped to the next image.Blood.Not mine. Not Luca’s. Just a smear of red streaked across the pavement, with a message
LUCAI didn’t move right away. Neither did she.Isadora’s breath was still warm against my lips, her body tense under my touch. I could see the way her fingers curled at her sides, like she was fighting the urge to push me away or pull me closer.Didn’t matter.The moment was gone.I exhaled sharply and stepped back, turning toward the door. Rafael stood there, phone in hand, his expression like stone.“They left something else.” His voice was tight. “A body.”My pulse slowed.“Who?” I asked, already knowing I wouldn’t like the answer.Rafael hesitated for half a second. “One of ours.”Fucking hell.I shoved past him, grabbing my jacket off the back of the chair. “Where?”“Warehouse district. Near the docks.”Of course, the goddamn docks.I turned back to Isadora. She was watching me, her arms still crossed, but the anger in her eyes had shifted.This was real for her now. Not just secrets. Not just lies. Blood had been spilled.“You’re staying here,” I told her, my tone leaving no ro
ISADORAThe cold realization settled deep in my bones.This was about me.The Scorpions weren't just playing mind games with Luca anymore. They wanted to make it clear-l was fair game.I forced myself to look at the body again, the blood stark against the concrete. Whoever this man was, he had been used as a message. A pawn in a war I didn't even fully understand yet.My stomach twisted, but I wouldn't let myself break. Not here. Not now.Luca still hadn't moved. His entire body was rigid, his breathing slow and controlled, but I knew better. I could feel the rage simmering just beneath the surface, barely held back by the thin thread of restraint he had left.Rafael shifted, his expression unreadable. "They're getting bolder."Luca didn't respond."Luca," Rafael tried again, his voice edged with warning. "We need to move. We can't stay out here"I know." His voice was quiet, deadly. He turned to me, his eyes dark. "Get in the car, Isadora."I hated the way he said it, like he was bar
EMILIOUnknown Location The ice clinked against the side of the glass as I stirred lazily, the amber liquid inside catching the light of the chandelier above.“Status?” I asked, mirroring the same word Morretti was probably spitting into his phone right now.Viktor stood across the room, arms folded, expression sharp. “She was shaken. He’s rattled. Mission accomplished.”A smile tugged at my mouth. “Good.”I rose from the armchair and crossed to the wall of screens, all still frames from different angles—streets, clubs, surveillance feeds. And right in the center, a blurry image of Isadora, caught mid-turn in that little bridal boutique. Fear in her eyes. Vulnerability in her shoulders.It was art.“She didn’t see the blade,” Viktor said. “Just the man. It was enough.”“That was the point,” I murmured. “It was never about hurting her. Not yet. It was about jarring him.”I tapped the screen slowly, the rhythm like a ticking bomb.“Luca thinks he’s sti
LUCAAn Hour LaterI watched her disappear down the hall with a flicker of a smile on her lips. A rare one. One I hadn’t seen in too long.God, I missed that smile.The moment she turned the corner, I was already pulling my phone from my pocket.“Status?” I asked, voice low.Rafael answered on the first ring. “We tracked the van. No plates. Abandoned in Queens. Torched.”Of course it was. “Surveillance?”“Nothing clean. Either they knew the angles or they’ve got someone on the inside feeding them locations.”I let out a breath, slow and steady. My fingers clenched around the glass in my hand, tension humming just beneath my skin.“Pull every camera within a ten-block radius. I want facial recognition run on anyone near that vehicle in the past twenty-four hours.”Rafael was silent for a beat. “Luca, you should tell her what we know. She’s not stupid—”“No,” I cut him off. “She doesn’t need more reasons to lose sleep. Let her plan the damn wedding.”
LUCAThe Next MorningThe storm inside me hadn’t passed. It had simply settled into a quiet rage, one that hummed beneath my skin like a loaded gun. I stood by the window in my office, watching the sun claw its way up through the skyline, wondering how the hell it had come to this.Emilio. That name was starting to rot in my brain. I should’ve seen him coming. I should’ve anticipated the move, the breach. The moment I saw the fear in Isadora’s eyes, I knew I’d failed. And failure? That’s not something I wear lightly.She was right. She always is when it comes to the things I don’t want to admit. I’d been so obsessed with shielding her, watching her every move, preparing for every threat—except the one that slipped right past us. And she’d seen it clearer than I had: maybe she wasn’t the real target. Maybe I was.But fuck, if I’m the target, then fine. Let them come. I can take it. I’ve taken worse. What I can’t take? Watching her unravel, feeling that grief eating her
ISADORA “I mean,” I continued, my voice tightening with each word, “what if it’s not me they want? What if they’re after you? What if Emilio’s plan is bigger than just hurting me? Maybe I’m just the distraction.” I saw the shift in him, but it wasn’t shock. It was something else—an understanding. A knowing. “I thought I’d made that clear,” he said, his voice softer now, almost like he was speaking to himself. “You’re always the first to be in danger because they know what you mean to me. But I’ve never thought you were the ultimate target.” My chest tightened at the realization. I wanted to argue, but the truth was, he already knew. He’d already thought of it. He always thought of everything. “You always think about me,” I murmured, my voice cracking slightly, “but you never think about yourself. About what could happen to you.” He stepped closer, but this time there was no anger in his movement. Just an unsettling calm. “You don’t get it, Isador
ISADORAThe tension in the house was suffocating. Luca hadn’t spoken much since last night, but I could feel his presence—watchful, calculating. He was always in control, but now? Now he was something else entirely. A storm waiting to break.I sat in the library, pretending to read while my mind ran in circles. Emilio. The name had latched onto my thoughts, sinking its claws in, refusing to let go. He had sent someone to me. He had found me. I was supposed to be safe under Luca’s protection, yet a stranger had slipped past his security like it was nothing.A sharp knock at the door made me jump.Laura stepped in, eyes scanning me carefully before shutting the door behind her. “You okay?”I sighed, closing the book I wasn’t actually reading. “I don’t know.”She sat on the armrest of my chair, crossing her arms. “Luca is losing his mind over this.”I snorted. “Yeah, I gathered that much.”“Have you spoken to him?”I shook my head. “Not since last night. He ju
LUCAThe moment Marco left, I poured myself a drink, but it did nothing to settle the fire burning in my chest. My mind was already running through every possibility, every name that could be responsible for this betrayal.A fucking mole.Someone close. Someone who had access. Someone who knew too much.I needed to be careful. If I made the wrong move, they’d spook, and we’d lose our one chance to track this bastard back to Emilio.My fingers flexed around the glass before I tossed back the whiskey, the burn doing nothing to temper my rage.I pulled out my phone again and dialed Bianca.She answered on the first ring.“Luca.”“Where are you?” I asked, skipping the pleasantries.There was a pause, then, “My office.”“Stay there. I’m coming.”I didn’t wait for her response before I grabbed my jacket and headed for the door.---BIANCA’S OFFICEBianca looked up as I stormed in, her eyes narrowing at my expression. “This isn’t a social visit
LUCAThe moment Isadora stepped through the door, I knew something was wrong.She wasn’t the type to shrink, to tremble, but there was something different about the way she held herself—rigid, controlled, like she was keeping herself from unraveling.Laura was right behind her, her face tight with unease, which only made my pulse hammer harder.I pushed off the desk, my full attention on Isadora. "What happened?"She exhaled sharply, her gaze locked onto mine. "Someone approached me at the boutique."Every muscle in my body went rigid.I crossed the room in three strides, stopping just inches from her. "Who?"She shook her head. "I don’t know. I didn’t recognize him. But he knew my name, Luca. He got into the dressing room—"I snapped.My jaw clenched so hard I could feel the grind of my teeth, my hands fisting at my sides to keep from breaking something.I turned to Marco, who had followed them inside. "Where the fuck were you?"His face was tight
ISADORAThe boutique smelled of fresh fabric and expensive perfume, the kind of place where people whispered in hushed tones, as if speaking too loudly would disturb the delicate world of lace and silk.Laura sat on a plush chair near the mirrors, flipping through her phone while one of the attendants hung up the latest options she’d picked for me. I ran my fingers over the delicate embroidery of a gown, trying to focus, trying to imagine walking down the aisle, wearing this, marrying Luca—Luca.I exhaled slowly, pressing my fingers against my temple. His refusal to postpone the wedding had settled in my chest like a weight, heavy and unmoving. I understood why, but that didn’t mean I had to like it. The world around us was shifting, secrets unraveling, and yet here I was, picking out a wedding dress as if nothing had changed.But everything had changed."Try this one on," Laura said, standing up and handing me a dress. "It looks like something you'd actually wear,
LUCAI sat at the edge of the bed, elbows on my knees, staring at nothing. The weight of the revelation hadn’t lifted. If anything, it had settled deeper into my bones, a constant hum of awareness thrumming beneath my skin.I had a brother.A brother who had been hidden from the world. A brother who had vanished the night I put a bullet in our father’s skull.And now, I had to find him.Before he found me.The sound of soft footsteps pulled me from my thoughts. Isadora. I knew before she even touched me, before her hands found my shoulders, squeezing just enough to ground me."We need to talk," she said quietly.I let out a slow breath. "We already did.""Not about that," she said, stepping in front of me. Her gaze was steady, unwavering. "About the wedding."I stiffened. "What about it?"She hesitated, then took a breath, like she was preparing herself for a fight. "Maybe we should postpone."The words landed like a slap.My eyes locked onto he