The bed felt cold and empty, the warmth of Luca's body gone. I was alone, abandoned in this dangerous world. Did he really think I was just going to leave him? He’d told me how to get back home, but did he not see the fear in my eyes? The desperate plea for him to stay? Did he truly think I would just walk away from him, from everything that was now unfolding? He was foolish if he thought that, very foolish. I dragged myself out of bed, my head throbbing and my whole body aching. I looked in the mirror and saw my reflection, a perfect embodiment of how I felt- like shit. My eyes were red and swollen, the remnants of a night spent crying myself to sleep.I walked to the bathroom, needing a hot bath. I turned on the water, watching it fill the tub as my mind drifted, replaying the events of the last few hours. When the tub was half full, I climbed in, the warmth of the water a welcome relief to my aching body. My muscles relaxed, the tension easing from my shoulders, but my heart rem
I couldn't bear staying in the same place as Hazel. I wasn't going to stay in Los Angeles, not with her going back home. But before I left, I needed to give the press something. I had checked my phone earlier, and the headlines weren't doing good things for my company. I needed to control the narrative, to at least appear in control. I arrived at the company, grabbing a few things and doing some work. I could hear the crowd outside, trying to get answers from one of my men, who I had told to act as my personal assistant. I decided to close off the office and get this whole thing over with. I walked out, and there they were, waiting at the front door. I was ready to speak to them. I was tired of this, tired of the whispers and the drama. "Due to the recent allegations made by my fellow businessman, Dmitri," I said, my gaze unwavering. "Rossi Enterprise will be temporarily shutting down while I clear my name and address these claims. To our investors and partners, I understand
Luca's POV The cigarette smoke filled the air, a swirling cloud that seemed to mimic the chaos in my mind. As I inhaled, a strange feeling washed over me, a prickle of unease that I couldn't ignore. I had a feeling that Dmitri knew where I was. Maybe some of his men were on their way. I was psychic sometimes, a weird sixth sense that had saved me more than once. I didn’t want to cause a scene at the hotel. I decided to pick up my things and leave. I got inside my car and drove to a more secluded area. There was an abandoned house, a place I had been to before. It was perfect for hiding, for waiting. I arrived at the house, a crumbling, ramshackle structure that had seen better days. But it was quiet, hidden away from prying eyes. I could disappear here, wait for them to come to me. I waited patiently, listening for any sound, any hint of movement. It was a game of cat and mouse, and I was the mouse, waiting for the cat to make its move. The tension was thick, almost suffocating
I opened the door to Luca's room, and there he was, Lorenzo, the big guy Marco had appointed to watch over me. He was still in front of the door as always, a silent guardian. I felt a strange sense of security around him, almost like he was... well, I wasn't sure how to describe it. But all through, he'd been nice, never threatening, never making me feel uncomfortable. Marco wouldn't have entrusted me to him if he didn't trust him, that much was certain. After all, Marco had sworn that if anything happened to me and Luca came back and found me in pain, Luca was going to kill him. So, he was careful. Very careful.But even with that reassurance, a nagging feeling of unease lingered. There was something about Lorenzo, a vibe, a subtle shift in his presence that made me question his true intentions. It wasn't anything concrete, just a feeling, a prickling at the back of my neck that suggested he wasn't as pure as he seemed. He was just... off. I couldn't quite put my finger on it
Luca's POVThe rage was a firestorm inside me, consuming everything. It was the kind of fire that burned hotter with every drop of blood spilled, every breath stolen. I shot back at the man who almost ended me, a guttural roar escaping my lips. The bullet slammed into his ribs, not a fatal wound, but enough to immobilize him. He crumpled to the floor, a pained groan escaping him. I dragged him, a dead weight, under the bed, praying he wouldn't lose consciousness. He was a prisoner now, a pawn in my game of survival.The sounds of gunfire erupted, echoing through the desolate house. They came in waves, each one a deafening roar that vibrated through my bones. I felt the sting of another bullet, this time in my left arm, a sharp, hot pain that quickly dissolved into a dull ache. I tasted metal in my mouth, and the world seemed to tilt on its axis. But I didn't falter. I squeezed my eyes shut, the blood pulsing in my ear, and shot. One man went down, his skull splatter against the wall,
Lena's POV The world was a blurry, painful mess. My eyelids felt like lead weights, the pressure of them pushing down on my eyes, but I knew I had to fight to open them. My head throbbed, each beat of pain echoing through my skull. I finally managed to pry them open a sliver, the world coming into focus slowly. Moonlight filtered through a high window, casting long, distorted shadows on the rough stone walls. I was sitting on the cold, hard ground, my legs stretched out in front of me. I tried to move my hands, but I felt a sickening tightness, a binding sensation. Panic began to claw its way up my throat. My wrists were tied, my legs too. A wave of confusion washed over me. Where was I? Why was I tied up? What happened? I remembered being on a walk with Lorenzo,..... And that's when it clicked. Lorenzo had betrayed us together with some other men. He had drugged me and now I was here. Desperation seized me. I tried to wiggle my wrists free, pulling at the ropes with every
The voice of the pilot droning on about our imminent landing broke through the fog of my semi-conscious state. I stirred, a dull ache pulsing through my head. I wasn't in a coma. Not yet, anyway. I was strung out, yes, but alive. The weariness was a heavy weight in my limbs, a constant reminder of the shots I'd taken. My muscles felt raw, every movement a painful protest. Exhausted, but with a surge of adrenaline fueling me, I stood up. I had work to do. I had to teach these fuckers a lesson. Teach them not to fuck with the Rossi's again. I shuffled over to the small fridge in my room and grabbed a bottle of vodka. I downed it in one go, the burn a welcome distraction from the throbbing in my head. I was playing with my health, I knew, but I had to get my head straight.I dug through my first aid kit, my eyes fixed on the wound on my arm. I knew it wasn't a bullet, not really, but it felt like it. I needed to know what it was. I found the tweezers, the steel cold and sharp against m
Luca's POVThe anger simmered through me, a molten core threatening to erupt. I grabbed Marco’s shirt, my fingers digging into the fabric. "How the fuck did she get kidnapped? Where was she going? Where the fuck were you?"Marco slapped my hand away, his eyes blazing. "Don't fucking touch me. If you hadn't left, or maybe you had the decency to tell any of us where you were going, or carried her along with you to make sure she was safe, she wouldn't have been crying her eyes out and then decided to go for a walk with that fucking traitor, Lorenzo." "What were you doing? Where the fuck were you, Marco? You know how much she fucking means to me."“I don’t know shit. You should own up to your girl and not expect me to do it. Or what the fuck did you expect me to do? Play babysitter and have tea with her? You can't protect what you care about and expect me to do it? You’re fucking crazy,” Marco said, his voice cold and cutting. He shoved past me and headed for the office.I followed him,
Luca's POVThe plane climbed higher and higher, its lights shrinking against the vast, indifferent expanse of the night sky. I watched it until it was just a faint glimmer, then a shadow, and finally, nothing at all. Lena left me. Everything I thought I knew, everything I'd built, everything I wanted... gone. Everything that had given my life meaning for the past year, just... vanished. It all left with that plane.I was alone again, standing on that cold, empty tarmac, but it wasn't the same as before. Before, I was just empty. Now, I was hollowed out, a shell of a man with a gaping hole where my heart used to be. It was worse than I ever thought.I stood there for what felt like hours, the cold air biting at my skin, but I barely felt it. The chill inside was far more profound. I stared up at the star-dusted sky, as if I could somehow will her back, pull the plane out of the sky and return her to me. But the sky remained silent, indifferent to my silent plea.I clenched my fist an
Lena's POVLuca wasn't comfortable with all my turning and tossing. I could feel his frustration radiating off him, a palpable tension in the air."Lena, look. I don't know, this shit is fucked up. I apologize, I'll become better… It's just. Fuck!!" He finally exploded, the words laced with desperation."Don't scream that shit in my ear," I snapped more tired than angry, turning away from him again. Every apology, every promise felt hollow, like a performance."Trust me, please," Luca practically begged, his voice cracking with emotion. But I couldn't say anything. What was there to say? The trust had been eroded, chipped away by his inconsistent behavior, and I didn't know how to rebuild it."Le-""I need time, Luca. Please book me a flight right now. I can't stay here much longer." The words were out before I could fully process them. The words felt like ripping off a bandage, painful and necessary. It was a gut reaction, a desperate need to escape, to breathe."Lena…""Luca, pleas
Lena's POVI showered in Sarah’s bathroom, trying to wash away the tension and the lingering scent of violence. We decided to head out for a little cozy night out. I wore Sarah’s sweatshirt and pants since I didn't want to go back to my room and likely face Luca.We both slid into Sarah’s Range Rover. “When does Raiden get back from school?” I asked, trying to distract myself from the turmoil in my own life. I missed him too.“Was just about to tell you now. I’ll pick him up from school, and then we can go to the park. You okay with that?”“Yeah, absolutely,” I replied, grateful for the distraction.We arrived at Raiden’s school, Sarah went in to pick him up, and in no time she was out with Raiden by her side. Sarah placed Raiden in the backseat, “Heyy,” I squealed, my voice full of affection, he was startled at first. He scooted over to see my face from where I sat in the passenger seat, and the sweetest smile appeared on his face, warming me up. For this part, I really don't mind
Lena's POVImmediately I sat down, Luca sped off. I tried to make small talk with him, but was outright shut down. I was trying to figure out why exactly he was angry. If it was because of the pregnancy talk earlier or what. Fast forward to two days later, and Luca still wasn't fucking with me. He was distant and sharp, and it was pissing me off. Little things were starting to get to me, and I felt nauseous most of the day and as well did not have time to deal with his bullshit and stupid mood swings.I still didn't see Marco since the field. I was sat on the island stool eating the sandwich I made before I felt a presence beside me. “Hii,” Sarah said to me. “How are you? Feels like I haven't seen you in ages.” I said, trying to match her cheerfulness.“Right. I'm good, Nobody's fault but your's though” Sarah replied, and I just gave her a small silly, guilty smile.“Raiden?” I asked.“He went to school,” Sarah said.“Oh. Who dropped him off, cause you're here? Or are you just getti
Lena's POVI picked up my pace, wanting to catch up with Luca. He was already far ahead, but at least I could still see him, so I didn't lose track. We were in a large, open field that was surrounded by large trees. It felt quite deserted from the rest of the world, and precisely so. On entering the plot of land, about a five-minute drive before where he parked the car, there was a board that read 'Rossi's Property,' so definitely nobody would dare come near it.I finally got to where Luca was standing, panting. He barely gave me a glance. There were three men and then Dmitri and Igor on the ground looking even worse than they did in the underground.. Luca said something to the men in Italian, and they bowed their heads and started to move out. When they got closer to me, they bowed again. I didn't know what to do, so I bowed and waved at them, feeling incredibly awkward and confused.“Stay back somewhere,” Luca's deep voice said to me, and I backed up a little.He went inside the
Lena's POVLuca gifted me Igor's hand. A dismembered human hand. My initial reaction was pure disgust and a cold fear that ran right through me. I mean that's somebody's real hand.But then…I thought about the fact that Luca really did all of that for me. Even though he probably enjoyed doing it, a thrill went through me. It was… hot? Sexy? Nice? Yeah… all of those things. But not everyone was fucked in the head like that, I couldn't stomach it.I felt Luca’s hot breath on my neck as we stood on the balcony outside the room. He’d followed me out here after I asked him to get rid of the hand. “So, you don’t appreciate the gift I got you, yeah?” he asked, a hint of teasing in his voice.“I do,” I said softly and honestly. “It’s just that… I’m scared of it. Damn, Luca, that’s somebody’s real, severed hand, cold and fresh in a box. Would you not be shocked if I was totally okay with it, with the background I come from?”Luca placed his hands on the railings, effectively locking me in be
Luca's POVI carefully slid away from Lena, trying not to wake her. Peeling back the covers, her naked body was on full display. God, she was beautiful. I lightly touched her thigh, running my hand up its length, and she stirred slightly. I continued caressing, moving my hand higher, until it was between her thighs. Slowly, lightly, I moved my hand back and forth, and she instinctively spread her legs open a little further, still lost in sleep. I chuckled softly at whatever she must be dreaming about.Now I had access. Her clit. Already wet and slick. I started running my finger over it, teasing her gently. I pressed two fingers against her entrance, feeling her walls, and she let out a small moan. I slipped one finger inside, and she jerked slightly. A smile tugged at my lips. I added another finger, starting to move them slowly and deliberately, drawing out the pleasure.Lena’s eyes fluttered. Those beautiful ice-blue depths, meant only for me. My drug. They were filled with lust a
Lena's POVWe were finally done showering, and I was digging through Luca's closet. It was massive, naturally. I settled on this green sweater, and it struck me as so…weird. Luca never wore colors. It was always black, white, grey - the neutrals that undeniably looked amazing on him.He turned just as I was pulling it over my head. He pointed, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. "My mom gave me that. I've never worn it, really. I don't like colors, and...it's got a cartoon character on it." It was Scooby Doo."Oh." I pulled at the hem. "Is it okay if I wear it?"He shrugged, a casual gesture that didn't quite hide the fact he was watching me. "Yeah, it's fine."I raised an eyebrow. "Really? You sure?"He insisted a couple times, each time with impatience creeping in. I paired it with his black basketball shorts that were too long for me, pulled my hair up into a messy bun, and called it good. Luca, meanwhile, was just in a white muscle tee and black basketball shorts. He l
Lena's POVI woke up, my face smooshed into a hard, taut chest, and I smiled, instantly knowing who it belonged to. I shuffled to get out, trying not to suffocate, which made Luca wake up. His beautiful green eyes fluttered open, a sight that always made my heart skip a beat."Hi," I said, my smile widening."Hey," Luca mumbled. He reached out and moved the hair out of my face, his touch gentle. "You're beautiful," he finished, his voice still thick with sleep."Thank you," I replied, my smile growing."You welcome," he replied, his voice warm and tender."You know what?" I asked, stroking his beard, feeling the rough texture against my fingertips. "You look good, too.""Really?" he asked, a hint of amusement in his voice."Yeah. Your hair all grown out makes you look so fucking hot. Like a hundred times hotter," I gushed, my honesty unfiltered."I thought it didn't look good though. I wanted to cut it today. With you here. Half of my stress is gone," he said, a small smile playing on