I should’ve been pumped to be back.Three weeks off the field. Three weeks of watching from the sidelines. Three weeks of feeling like a useless piece of shit while my team carried on without me.And now?Now, I was back.But instead of relief, all I felt was a strange, uneasy weight pressing down on my chest.I rolled my shoulders, trying to shake it off.The locker room was buzzing, the usual pre-practice chaos—guys joking around, throwing tape at each other, blasting music loud enough to make the walls vibrate.But the second I stepped inside, the energy shifted.Heads turned.Conversations quieted.And just like that, I knew.Some of them were glad I was back. Others… not so much.“About time,” Ethan muttered, tossing me a roll of tape. “Team’s been shit without you.”“Yeah, well,” I grunted, catching it. “They managed.”Aaron smirked from across the room. “Barely.”But not everyone looked thrilled.A few of the newer lads kept their distance, shooting me quick glances before turn
I felt it the second I stepped onto the pitch.The pressure.The expectations.The unspoken challenge hanging in the air.I wasn’t just here to play today. I was here to prove that I still deserved to be here.That I was still the best.That I was still Luca fucking Russo.Coach hadn’t said it outright, but I knew how this worked. Three weeks off wasn’t just time lost—it was an opening. A chance for someone else to step up, to make a claim on what was mine.Kyle Carter had done just that.And now, he wanted me gone.Not happening.“Russo! Carter! You’re on opposite teams today.” Coach’s voice carried over the field, sharp and deliberate. “I want fire. I want speed. No holding back.”No holding back?Perfect.Kyle and I locked eyes from across the field, and the message was crystal clear.Game on.The Scrimmage – A Battle for DominanceThe second the whistle blew, I was gone.I moved on instinct, years of muscle memory kicking in, weaving through the field like I was born to be there.
I was making a mistake.A big one.I knew it the second I pressed send.“Pick me up at 8.”The moment the message was out, I wanted to grab it back, shove the words back down my throat and pretend I’d never thought them.But it was too late.Luca had already seen it.And worse?He had replied immediately.Luca: “See you then, princess.”I groaned, throwing my phone onto my bed like it had personally betrayed me.What the hell was I doing?I had spent weeks—months—telling myself that getting close to Luca Russo was a bad idea. That he was dangerous in ways that had nothing to do with his reputation on the field and everything to do with the way he made me feel.Like I was standing too close to a flame, just waiting to catch fire.But here I was.Jumping straight into the inferno.The DriveBy the time 8 PM rolled around, I had changed outfits three times and cursed myself at least a hundred.And yet, when I heard the familiar deep rumble of Luca’s car outside, I still rushed to the win
I woke up before I even opened my eyes.You know that moment—when you’re aware before you’re ready to be? When your body feels different, your surroundings unfamiliar, and your brain takes a slow, cautious second to put the pieces together?That was me.And the second I remembered where I was, what I had done, who I had done it with—Panic.Pure, gut-wrenching, heart-racing panic.My eyes snapped open, my breath hitching as I took in the unfamiliar ceiling, the heavy arm draped over my waist, the warm press of a body behind me.Luca.Oh. My. God.I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to will myself back in time. Just a few hours, back to when I still had control, when I hadn’t let myself fall into something I swore I never would.But it was too late.The damage was done.And judging by the slow, steady rise and fall of his breathing against my back, Luca was still asleep, completely unaware of the full-blown crisis I was having in his bed.I needed to get out of here.Now.Slowly—so, so slo
I should have known it was coming.The feeling had been gnawing at me for weeks—an anxious weight in my chest, pressing down harder every time my mother’s voice dropped to a whisper over the phone, every time I caught the worried glances she threw my way when she thought I wasn’t looking.But tonight, it all clicked.I stood frozen in the doorway of our tiny living room, my breath trapped in my throat as I listened.“She doesn’t know,” my mother said, voice shaking. “And she can’t find out, Matthew. Not now.”My father’s voice was a murmur, too low for me to make out the words, but I could hear the tension in them. It didn’t matter what he was saying—I already knew.This wasn’t just about money anymore.It was about me.About Luca.I gripped the edge of the doorframe, my knuckles white.For months, I’d tried to ignore the reality of our situation. I had convinced myself that if I just focused on school, kept my head down, and stayed invisible at Ridgecrest Academy, then maybe—just may
I knew something was wrong the second I saw her.Sienna was always guarded, always cautious, but today… today was different.She was pale. Tense. Her eyes darted around the crowded Ridgecrest courtyard like she was expecting someone to jump out at her.She hadn’t seen me yet, but I had seen her. And whatever the hell had happened last night, it had carved deep into her—I could see it.I was across the yard before I even realized I’d moved.“Sienna.”She flinched.And that? That set off every alarm bell in my head.Her gaze lifted, locking onto mine, but the walls were already up. She was hiding something.I clenched my jaw. “What happened?”“Nothing.” She tried to brush past me. “I’m late for class.”I stepped in front of her, cutting off her escape. “Bullshit.”A flicker of something flashed across her face—anger, frustration, maybe even fear. “Luca, please.”I stared at her. Really stared.Her hands were trembling.That was all I needed to see.I grabbed her wrist, gently but firmly
I knew Luca was going to do something reckless the second I saw his hands clench into fists. His whole body had tensed like a coil wound too tight, ready to snap.And when Luca Russo snapped?People got hurt.I wasn’t worried about myself—at least, not physically. No, the real danger was Luca getting tangled up in something he shouldn’t.Something I never wanted him to be a part of.I could see the storm brewing in his eyes, and I knew I had to stop it.“Luca,” I whispered.His jaw was so tight I thought his teeth might crack. He was pissed. Not at me, but at the situation. At my father’s debts, at the men who had shown up at my house.At the fact that I hadn’t told him sooner.He inhaled sharply, his thumb brushing over my cheek—gentle, despite the fury radiating off him. “You should have told me.”I swallowed hard. “What could you have done?”His lips parted, but I could see the truth in his eyes. He didn’t know. And that? That made him even angrier.Luca was used to control. Used t
I was going to kill him.Didn’t matter that he was her father. Didn’t matter that he was the reason she existed.The second I found out Sienna’s dad was the one who dragged her into this mess, I saw red.Her father. The man who was supposed to protect her.Instead, he’d left her drowning in his debts, forced to carry the weight of his mistakes.And now, she was standing in front of me, begging me not to get involved.As if I could ignore it.As if I could just walk away and pretend none of this was happening.No.That wasn’t an option.Not when I’d already decided—I was all in.Sienna crossed her arms, trying to stand her ground. But I could see it in her eyes. She was scared.Not of me.Of what might happen if I went after the people threatening her.“Luca,” she said, voice low. “Please.”I exhaled sharply, trying to rein in my temper. “I’m not letting this slide, Sienna.”“You don’t have to—”“I do.”Her lips parted, but no sound came out.I stepped closer, my hand wrapping around h
(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