2: The Art Of War

The drive was quiet.

Maria sat stiffly in the passenger seat, her hands gripping the hem of her dress as the city passed by in a blur. The streets of Hay Port were still waking up, bathed in the soft gold of the morning sun, but Maria couldn't appreciate the beauty outside.

Her mind was still stuck in that office.

Still kneeling.

Still feeling the cold marble against her knees, the weight of humiliation pressing down on her chest as Edwards dismissed her like she was nothing.

She clenched her jaw, staring down at her lap.

The silence between her and Luca stretched. The man beside her-her brother's best friend, the reckless boy who had once been a constant presence in her childhood-was now driving her away from everything she had once called hers. Away from Edwards. Away from the life she had built for him.

But strangely, she didn't feel lost.

She felt... lighter.

Like she was no longer carrying all of it alone.

Still, confusion lingered in her chest.

"Why did you do that?" she finally asked, breaking the silence.

Luca, who had been focused on the road, turned slightly, his brown eyes catching the sunlight.

"Do what?" he asked, feigning innocence.

Maria exhaled sharply. "You know what. Why did you help me? Why did you say all that?"

Luca tapped his fingers against the steering wheel, his many rings catching the light. "Because you needed me to."

Maria frowned. "I never asked you to."

Luca smirked. "You didn't have to, Marie."

Maria blinked at the name.

Marie.

Only Johan had ever called her that.

It felt like being punched in the gut.

Before she could respond, Luca's next words made her still.

"Do you want revenge?"

Her head snapped toward him.

Revenge?

Maria stared at him, taking in all of him for the first time in years.

Luca Avancii had grown into a man that commanded attention. He was nothing like the reckless eighteen-year-old boy she remembered-the one who had been all sharp grins and mischief, always getting Johan into trouble.

Now, he was... different.

Tattooed all the way to his thick, corded neck.

Glinting silver rings on strong, veined fingers.

A jaw that was too sharp, a nose that had been broken at least once, a presence that was both effortless and dangerous.

And his eyes.

Those brown eyes.

Warm and rich, like melting honey when the sun hit them through the window panel.

She hadn't seen those eyes in fifteen years.

Maria felt herself staring too long.

Luca smirked without looking at her. "Stop staring at me, Marie." His voice was teasing, light. Like old times.

Maria flushed, quickly turning away, her gaze finding the city outside.

The morning sun was beautiful-soft and golden-but her mind was no longer on the sky.

Luca's words still echoed in her head.

Do you want revenge?

She didn't know.

She had only wanted justice.

She had wanted fairness.

But Edwards had looked at her like she was a nuisance. A mistake. A burden.

Like she was nothing.

She swallowed, blinking hard against the sting in her eyes.

"You won't get half of his wealth," Luca said suddenly, his voice calm.

Maria turned her head slightly, watching him.

He smirked.

"You'll get everything."

Her breath caught.

For a moment, the world felt still.

She turned fully toward him, eyes searching his face for any sign of a joke.

But there was none.

Luca was serious.

The weight of his words settled deep in her chest, curling into something she couldn't quite name.

She wanted to say something-to ask how, to ask why, to ask if he really meant it-but no words came.

So she said nothing.

Luca didn't press. He simply kept driving, the low hum of the engine filling the silence between them.

Then, finally, he pulled into the parking lot of SpitFire Autos.

Maria's lips parted slightly as she took it in.

The building was sleek and bold, its modern glass windows reflecting the morning sun. The structure was colored in deep grey-almost obsidian-like a storm ready to strike.

The large neon sign above the entrance glowed brilliant red.

SpitFire Autos.

The name suited it.

Sleek, powerful, untouchable.

Luca killed the engine, then turned to her fully.

His gaze swept over her, assessing.

Maria knew how she looked-tear-swollen eyes, lower lip red from overbiting, long eyelashes damp with residual tears.

But Luca didn't look at her with pity.

He looked at her like he was memorizing her.

Like she was important.

Maria clenched her fingers against her dress.

"Would you want that?" Luca asked, his voice quieter now. More intense.

Maria's throat felt tight.

Would she want it?

Would she want Edwards to lose everything the way he had discarded her like she was worthless?

Would she want justice?

Or... revenge?

The answer came before she could stop it.

She nodded.

Slowly. Firmly.

Luca watched her for a second, something unreadable flickering in his gaze.

Then, without another word, he pushed open his door, stepping out into the morning light.

Maria followed.

The moment she stepped out, the cool breeze kissed her skin, making her shiver slightly.

Luca was already by her side before she could process it, his hand warm and steady against the small of her back as he guided her toward the entrance.

Maria inhaled deeply, letting the scent of motor oil, steel, and something faintly like leather fill her lungs.

This place...

This was his world.

And for the first time in years, Maria Dominic wasn't walking alone.

She was walking into war.

And Luca Avancii?

He was her weapon.