Chapter 13

"You can't seriously be considering this, Luca!" Sofia's voice rose with frustration as she paced the small living room of the safehouse. "It's obviously a trap."

Luca stood by the window, his posture rigid, eyes fixed on the city skyline. The news of Giulia's kidnapping had transformed him, bringing out a cold, ruthless side that both frightened and fascinated Sofia.

"Of course it's a trap," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "But it's my sister. I don't have a choice."

Enzo, seated on the worn couch, cleared his throat. "Boss, maybe we should consider other options. We could-"

"No." Luca's response was sharp, cutting through the air like a knife. "We do this my way. I go in alone, make the exchange. You two stay here and work on decrypting the rest of that ledger."

Sofia moved to stand in front of Luca, forcing him to meet her gaze. "And what happens when they kill you both? How does that help anyone?"

For a moment, Luca's mask slipped, and Sofia saw the turmoil in his eyes. The