Chapter 8

ISADORA

Flashes went off the moment we stepped out of the car, the bright lights blinding and relentless. Luca's hand found its place on my waist, firm and possessive, as he guided me into the grand hall.

"Don’t wander too far," he whispered, his breath warm against my ear. I nodded, though the thought of wandering off was the furthest thing from my mind.

Inside, Luca was immediately swept into a sea of people—some young, some older, but all with the same goal: to curry favor or ask for something only he could give. I watched as he handled them effortlessly, his charm on full display, while I stood to the side, feeling somewhat out of place in a room full of polished, dangerous faces.

It wasn’t long before my parents arrived. My mother’s face lit up with a small, practiced smile as she pulled me into a hug.

"Isa, dear, you look beautiful," she said, her tone sweet but hollow.

"Thank you, Mother," I replied, my voice flat and distant.

"I miss you," she added, but her words barely registered. I didn’t bother responding, and her smile faltered for a brief second before she recovered.

My father, on the other hand, bypassed me completely, heading straight for Luca with an extended hand. They exchanged a firm handshake, their expressions neutral yet tense. It wasn’t surprising, but it still stung, even though I hated to admit it.

The moment I excused myself to the washroom, I felt a sense of relief. The gala was overwhelming, with all the faces, the endless conversations, and the weight of Luca's world pressing down on me. I just needed a moment to breathe.

But as I stepped out of the washroom, my path was blocked by a woman I didn’t recognize. She was tall, with sharp features and piercing green eyes that held a glint of something dangerous.

"You need to stay away from Luca," she said, her voice low but filled with venom.

I blinked, completely caught off guard. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me. Luca isn’t yours to keep. Don’t get comfortable."

Before I could respond, she turned on her heel and walked away, leaving me standing there, stunned. My heart pounded in my chest, not from fear, but from confusion and a spark of anger. Who the hell was she? And what gave her the right to talk to me like that?

When I returned to the hall, I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for Luca. I found him standing by a cluster of men, deep in conversation. As I approached, his eyes flicked to mine, and he immediately excused himself to meet me halfway.

"Everything okay?" he asked, his voice steady, though his eyes flickered with concern.

I hesitated, unsure if I should even bring it up, but the woman’s words had rattled me. "Who’s that woman?" I subtly nodded toward her direction. She was standing across the room, laughing with a group of people like she hadn’t just tried to intimidate me minutes ago.

Luca’s gaze followed mine, and his expression hardened slightly. "That’s Sofia. We used to... have a thing," he admitted, his tone even. "Her family proposed marriage, but I rejected it."

Something twisted in my chest at his words. I hated the feeling, but I couldn’t deny it, I was jealous. I didn’t even know why. Luca wasn’t mine, not really. This engagement wasn’t built on love, yet the thought of him with her, or anyone else, bothered me more than it should.

I nodded, trying to hide my feelings. "I see."

"She said something to you, didn’t she?" His voice dropped, his eyes narrowing as he studied me.

"It’s nothing," I said quickly, not wanting to cause a scene.

He didn’t look convinced, but he let it go for now, his hand brushing against my lower back as he guided me toward our table.

The evening continued, though I couldn’t shake the lingering irritation. Sofia’s presence gnawed at me, even as I tried to focus on the event. Just when I thought I might finally relax, the atmosphere shifted.

It was subtle at first, a slight lull in the chatter, a strange energy in the room, like the air had turned electric. I caught a flash of movement out of the corner of my eye, something metallic glinting under the light.

Before I could even process it, Luca’s hand gripped my arm like a vice. “Down!” he barked, his voice sharp and commanding.

The world spun as he yanked me toward him, his body moving faster than my thoughts. A deafening bang cracked through the air, the sound ricocheting off the high ceilings. Screams erupted, chaos blooming around us as people scattered in every direction.

Luca pushed me to the ground, his frame covering mine completely. My head hit the cold marble floor, and my heart slammed against my ribcage, the realization hitting me like a punch, I was the target. Someone had tried to kill me.

“Stay down,” Luca growled, his voice low but laced with fury. I could feel the tension in his body, his muscles coiled like a predator ready to strike.

“W-who...?” I stammered, but the words barely made it out. My ears were ringing from the gunshot, my breaths coming in short, panicked gasps.

Luca didn’t answer. His focus was elsewhere, his eyes scanning the room like a hawk, searching for the shooter. He moved quickly, his hand reaching into his jacket to pull out a gun I hadn’t even realized he was carrying.

“Luca,” I whispered, my voice trembling.

He turned his head just enough to meet my eyes, his expression a mixture of anger and something I couldn’t quite place. Fear? No. Luca Morretti didn’t do fear. But the way he looked at me like I was something fragile he had to protect at all costs, it shook me.

“You’re safe,” he said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

I wanted to believe him, but the pounding in my chest wouldn’t let me. The sound of frantic footsteps, the echo of people shouting—it was all too much.

“Rafael!” Luca barked suddenly, his voice cutting through the chaos. Within seconds, his second-in-command appeared, his face grim.

“Find them,” Luca ordered, his voice cold and deadly. “And bring them to me alive.”

Rafael nodded, disappearing into the chaos without another word.

Luca turned back to me, his hand cupping my face now, his thumb brushing against my cheek. “You’re okay,” he said, softer this time, though his eyes were still hard, like he was barely holding himself together.

“I-I think so,” I managed to whisper, my voice shaking.

“Good.” He pulled me up carefully, his arm staying around my waist as if he thought I might collapse. His shirt was damp with sweat, his jaw tight with barely restrained rage.

The gala was a war zone now, bodies scattering like leaves in the wind. But Luca didn’t flinch. He was the calm at the center of the storm, the predator who had just been challenged in his own domain.

And God help whoever pulled that trigger.