Luca’s apartment was colder than I expected.Not in temperature—no, the space itself felt distant, detached. Like it had been built to be lived in but never really inhabited. Everything was pristine, the furniture sleek and expensive, but there was nothing personal. No pictures, no mess, no warmth.It made sense. Luca had never been the type to settle anywhere for too long.But now, I had no choice but to stay here.I sighed, sinking onto the edge of his leather couch, my thoughts spinning.The Scorpios.I had never heard of them before tonight, but from the way Luca, Ethan, and Cassie reacted, I knew they weren’t the kind of people you wanted to cross.And somehow, they were tied to me.Which meant this was bigger than just Matteo.It should have been impossible—my father’s debts had always revolved around Matteo Russo’s empire. So why the hell was another crew suddenly involved?And worse… who had sent them?Luca stood by the window, his phone in his hand, his jaw tight as he listen
I had never heard Sienna’s voice shake before.Not like this.Not even when she was scared, when she was angry, when she was breaking apart right in front of me. She had always had this stubborn strength, this fire that refused to burn out no matter how much shit life threw at her.But now?Now, she looked like the ground had been ripped out from under her.Her mother.The Scorpios were after her mother.And Sienna had no idea why.I forced myself to stay calm, to push past the frustration boiling in my veins. Because if I lost control, she would too. And right now, she needed someone to keep her grounded.I had never been good at that.But for her, I would try.I ended the call with Ethan and turned to face her. Cassie was already by her side, gripping her hand, her sharp green eyes scanning Sienna’s face like she was trying to hold her together with sheer willpower.“We need to find her,” Sienna said, her voice barely above a whisper.“We will,” I assured her.She swallowed, nodding
Luca’s words sent a shockwave through my system.“We tell him you know exactly where your mother is.”For a second, I thought I’d misheard him. But the cold, calculating expression on his face told me I hadn’t.Cassie was the first to react. “That is the dumbest plan I’ve ever heard.”Ethan let out a sharp breath, rubbing a hand down his face. “Agreed.”Luca ignored them both, his focus entirely on me. “Matteo doesn’t move without purpose. If he’s looking for your mother, it means she has something valuable—something he needs. And if we make him believe you already have her, he’ll come straight to us.”I could barely process what he was saying. My heart was still racing from the bomb Ethan had just dropped. My mother had met with Matteo. She had been involved in this, in ways I never even imagined.And now she was missing.The logical part of my brain told me Luca’s plan made sense. That if we wanted answers, we had to take control of the situation before Matteo did.But the other par
Matteo was coming.And that meant we had very little time to prepare.After the call ended, the room had gone eerily silent. Cassie and Ethan were still processing the reality of what we’d just done, but Sienna—she was in a world of her own.She hadn’t said a word, her fingers clenched so tightly around the edge of the table that her knuckles had turned white.I wanted to tell her that we had this under control. That we’d get through this, together.But that would’ve been a lie.Because the truth was, we were playing a dangerous game. One wrong move, and we wouldn’t just lose—we’d be destroyed.I pushed off the couch, grabbing the duffel bag I’d stashed in the corner.“We need to move.”Cassie blinked. “Move? Where?”“We can’t meet Matteo here. Too many variables we can’t control.” I tossed Ethan one of the burner phones I’d prepped. “We do this on our terms, in our location.”Ethan nodded. “I’ll make the arrangements.”Sienna finally spoke, her voice quiet but firm. “And what if he d
Matteo knew.I had seen it in his eyes—that sharp, knowing glint right before he walked away. He wasn’t just suspicious. He was certain that we were lying.And that meant we were running out of time.The moment his car disappeared down the road, I felt my breath leave me. My legs trembled, but I refused to let them give out.Not yet.I turned to Luca. “What now?”His jaw was tight, his gaze fixed on the empty space where Matteo had stood. He hadn’t moved since the moment Matteo walked away, his entire body tense like he was expecting an ambush.Cassie was the first to break the silence.“Well, that was a disaster,” she muttered, crossing her arms.Ethan ran a hand through his hair. “Could’ve been worse.”Cassie shot him a glare. “Could it, though? Because unless I misread the situation, Matteo Russo just walked out of here knowing we fed him a pile of absolute bullshit.”Luca finally turned, his gaze sharp. “We don’t know that.”Cassie threw up her hands. “Oh, come on, Luca. Did you s
I didn’t trust Adrian Moretti.Not now. Not ever.But I didn’t have a choice.Sienna had played her card, and now we were sitting across from one of the most dangerous men in the city, waiting for him to decide whether we were worth more alive or dead.Adrian leaned back in his chair, swirling his whiskey lazily, eyes locked on Sienna. He hadn’t looked away from her once since she spoke.I hated it.I forced myself to stay still, to keep my breathing even. Losing control here wasn’t an option.Adrian smirked. “You say you have something Matteo wants.”Sienna didn’t flinch. “We do.”Adrian exhaled slowly, taking a sip from his glass. “And tell me, little dove, why shouldn’t I just take it for myself?”My hand curled into a fist under the table.The way he said it. The way his voice dipped, teasing, laced with something dark. He was testing her. Testing us.Sienna didn’t back down.She sat straighter, her chin lifting. “Because if you wanted it, you would’ve taken it already.”A slow gr
The night air was thick with the scent of rain, the sky heavy with the promise of a storm. But it wasn’t the weather that made it hard to breathe.It was the deal we had just made.I kept my hands folded in my lap as the car sped through the darkened streets, my mind a whirlwind of everything that had just happened. Adrian Moretti had given us a way out, but it came at a price.And Luca was furious.I could feel it in the way his body was wound tight beside me, in the sharpness of his breathing, in the way he hadn’t looked at me once since we got in the car.Cassie shifted uncomfortably in the back seat. “So, uh… does anyone want to talk about the fact that we just agreed to take down a literal crime lord?”No one answered.Ethan let out a humorless chuckle. “I think we’re still processing.”Luca finally spoke, his voice low and edged with steel. “This wasn’t your decision to make.”I turned to him, my jaw tightening. “It wasn’t just mine. We were all there.”“You were the one who agr
The name haunted me.Enzo.My brother.The one I had spent half my life mourning and the other half pretending didn’t exist.And now Matteo was looking for him.That meant two things—he was alive. And he was a threat.I didn’t know which one scared me more.The apartment felt suffocating, too many ghosts in too small a space. Cassie sat cross-legged on the couch, arms folded. Ethan leaned against the doorframe, quiet for once. Sienna stood near the window, watching the city like it held all the answers.It didn’t.I exhaled, rubbing a hand over my face. “We need to start at the beginning.”Ethan raised a brow. “You mean the beginning where your brother supposedly died ten years ago?”I shot him a look. “I mean the beginning where Matteo decided he wasn’t dead after all.”Cassie sat forward. “Do we even know why he’s looking for him?”Silence.I hated that I didn’t have an answer. Matteo didn’t waste time on ghosts unless they served a purpose. If he wanted Enzo, it wasn’t for a family
(Sienna’s POV)The house was alive with laughter, the scent of fresh flowers and warm food mingling in the air as the guests arrived one after another. It felt surreal—this moment, this day. A day that marked the beginning of something far greater than Luca and me. It was the start of a new legacy, a new generation.I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the delicate lace on my white and gold dress. The fitted bodice hugged my waist, the flowy skirt cascading down to the floor in elegant waves. It was tradition to wear white for purity, for new beginnings, and today, everything felt pure.“Are you ready?” Luca’s voice came from behind me, deep and soothing.I turned, and there he was—my husband, the father of my children, the love of my life. He looked breathtaking in his custom-fitted navy-blue suit, the gold cufflinks matching the accents on my dress. His dark hair was styled to perfection, but it was his eyes—the way they softened when they met mine—that made my heart race.“As
(Sienna’s POV)The house was finally quiet. It was a fragile silence, the kind that came after hours of soothing newborn cries, calming restless toddlers, and making sure everything was set for the next day. I stood at the doorway of the nursery, my fingers gripping the frame as I watched my daughters sleeping soundly in their cribs.Elena and Isabella.It still felt surreal, even though I had spent the past eight weeks holding them, feeding them, memorizing every little detail about their tiny features. The gentle rise and fall of their chests, the way Isabella’s little fingers always curled around her sister’s when they were placed beside each other, the way Elena would turn her head in search of my voice.A soft smile tugged at my lips.It wasn’t just them that made my heart feel impossibly full—it was everything. The house, now brimming with life. The sound of Matteo and Alessandro’s giggles echoing through the halls. The way Luca looked at me with a depth of love that made me wea
(Luca's POV) Sienna was asleep.After more than fifteen hours of labor, screaming, crying, and a near bone-breaking grip on my hand, she had finally drifted into a well-earned rest. Her body was utterly exhausted, her face soft in slumber, strands of hair still sticking to her forehead.But me? I couldn’t sleep. Not even for a second.Because right in front of me, in the transparent bassinet beside Sienna’s hospital bed, lay our daughters.My daughters.I still couldn’t wrap my head around it. It didn’t feel real. How could it? One moment, it was just the two of us—just me and Sienna, figuring out life, navigating chaos, and now… now there were four of us.My heart clenched.They were so tiny. So fragile.One of them let out a small, soft sigh in her sleep, her tiny fingers twitching before settling against the soft pink blanket wrapped around her. Her sister lay beside her, her lips pursed slightly, looking just as peaceful.Matteo had arrived with Alessandro a few hours ago, and af
(Luca's POV) Time had never felt so slow and so fast at the same time.The past eight months had been a whirlwind. From setting up the nursery to attending doctor’s appointments, every single day had been a countdown to this moment. And now—now it was here.Sienna was in labor.And I was losing my goddamn mind.I had rehearsed this moment a thousand times. I had planned, prepared, and memorized every step of the process. But all of that went out the window the second Sienna gripped my arm and gasped, “Luca… my water just broke.”For a solid five seconds, I stared at her like a complete idiot.Then chaos erupted.“Okay—okay! We’re ready! We have the bag! We have the—where’s my phone?!” I patted down my pockets, my movements jerky and uncoordinated. My heart was pounding so loudly in my ears that I barely heard Sienna groan.“Luca,” she exhaled, gripping the kitchen counter as she breathed through a contraction. “Stop panicking.”“I’m not panicking,” I lied, my hands shaking as I reach
(Sienna's POV) The news of our twin girls spread like wildfire. By the time Luca and I had finished calling everyone in our immediate circle, our families had already told their friends, and somehow, I suspected half the neighborhood knew too.Luca’s mother had called again—twice—to ask if she could start planning the baby shower immediately. My own mother had sent me a list of name suggestions before I could even finish breakfast. Even Cassie had texted me with an absurd amount of baby girl outfits she wanted to buy.And through all of this, Luca looked like a man who had been hit by a freight train.“Are you okay?” I asked him as he slumped against the kitchen counter, staring at his phone.He let out a slow breath. “I just got a message from my uncle. He says congratulations, and that we should start looking into bulletproof windows for when the girls are teenagers.”I snorted. “He’s not wrong.”Luca groaned, rubbing his face. “Sienna, do you realize how much trouble I’m in?”I ra
(Luca’s POV)I didn’t know how long I sat there, staring at the ultrasound screen like a man who’d just had his entire world flipped upside down. Twin girls.Two.Jesus Christ.I ran a hand through my hair, exhaling sharply as I tried to process the reality of it. One baby had already been enough to completely wreck me in the best possible way, but two? I was so f***ed.Sienna was watching me, her fingers squeezing mine, probably waiting for me to say something more profound than the string of curses I’d already let loose. But my mind was short-circuiting.Twin daughters.“Luca,” she murmured, her voice softer now, like she was worried about me.I shook myself out of the trance, blinking at her before looking back at the screen, where two tiny, indistinct shapes flickered with life. My daughters.I swallowed hard, my chest tightening with something dangerously close to tears. “They’re so small,” I rasped.Dr. Caldwell chuckled. “That’s because they’re only about ten weeks along. But I
(Sienna’s POV)I sat on the edge of the bed, my fingers idly tracing the fabric of my nightgown. The past few months had been a whirlwind—recovery, adjusting back to normal life, and trying to find a sense of peace after everything we’d been through. Luca had been my rock, never leaving my side, always knowing exactly what I needed before I even said a word. And now, as the early morning light filtered through the curtains, I found myself staring down at the pregnancy test in my hands.Two lines.Two lines.I blinked. My breath hitched.No. This couldn’t be right.I grabbed another test from the drawer—one of the fancy digital ones. My hands shook as I followed the instructions, waiting the agonizing minutes for the result.“Pregnant. 3+ weeks.”A choked gasp left my lips. My heart pounded so hard I could hear it in my ears.Pregnant.I pressed a hand to my stomach, a thousand thoughts racing through my mind. We hadn’t been trying, not exactly, but we also hadn’t been preventing it. I
Luca's POV I never thought the sight of home would make my chest ache the way it did today. As the car rolled up the driveway, the massive wrought-iron gates slowly opening, I tightened my grip on Sienna’s hand.“We’re here, baby,” I murmured, pressing a kiss to her temple.Her head rested against the seat, exhaustion still etched into her delicate features, but when she lifted her gaze to meet mine, I saw something there—relief. Hope. A softness that had been missing for too long.She smiled, small but real. “Home,” she whispered, as if testing the word on her tongue.It had been months of uncertainty, months of fighting battles that neither of us had been prepared for. The long nights in the hospital, the painful procedures, the endless waiting for answers that never seemed to come fast enough. But we had made it through.And now, we were finally back where we belonged.The front door swung open before the driver even fully stopped the car. My mother rushed out first, wiping her ha
(Sienna’s POV)The hospital doors slid open, ushering in a crisp breeze that smelled like rain-soaked pavement. It was the scent of freedom, of normalcy, of the life we had fought so hard to return to. After what felt like an eternity inside these sterile white walls, we were finally walking out as a family again.Luca held Matteo in his arms, pressing a soft kiss to our son’s temple. Matteo had always been a light sleeper, but today, exhaustion had won, and he rested against his father’s chest, his small fingers curled into the fabric of Luca’s hoodie. Alessandro clutched my hand tightly, his grip firm as if he were afraid someone would try to pull us back inside. He had been so strong through all of this, stronger than any five-year-old should ever have to be.Outside, Dr. Caldwell and Dr. Moreau stood near the entrance, watching us go.“Remember,” Dr. Moreau said, adjusting the glasses perched on his nose, “his immune system is still delicate. Keep him away from crowded places for