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The Warning

Author: Caitlyn Omertá
last update Last Updated: 2024-10-29 19:42:56

"We can't stay here," Luca's voice was low and urgent as he guided Sofia out of the café, his hand warm on the small of her back. "It's not safe."

Sofia's mind was reeling, trying to process everything that had happened in the last few hours. Her father, the mob boss. Luca, her unlikely ally. And now, apparently, they were both in danger.

"Where are we going?" she asked, struggling to keep up with Luca's long strides.

"Somewhere safe," he replied cryptically, his eyes scanning the street as they walked. "Somewhere your father's men won't think to look."

They turned down a narrow alley, and Luca suddenly pulled Sofia close, pressing her against the brick wall. For a moment, Sofia thought he was going to kiss her, and her heart raced at the prospect. But then she heard the sound of footsteps approaching, and she realized he was shielding her from view.

A group of men passed by the alley entrance, their voices low and menacing. Sofia held her breath, acutely aware of Luca's body pressed
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    "You clean up nice, Moretti."Sofia's breath caught as she took in Luca's appearance. He was devastatingly handsome in a tailored black tuxedo, his dark hair slicked back, emphasizing the sharp angles of his face. The scar on his cheek, usually a reminder of his dangerous world, now only added to his allure.Luca's eyes raked over Sofia, taking in the slinky emerald dress that hugged her curves and brought out the color of her eyes. "You're not so bad yourself, Russo," he said, his voice low and husky.They were preparing for the charity gala where they planned to steal the backup ledger from Sofia's father. The tension in the room was palpable, a mix of anticipation for their dangerous mission and the undeniable attraction simmering between them.Enzo cleared his throat, breaking the moment. "If you two are done eye-fucking each other, can we go over the plan one more time?"Sofia felt her cheeks heat up, but Luca just chuckled. "Jealous, old man?"Enzo rolled his eyes. "Focus, boss.

  • The Don's Dilemma   Chapter 8

    "You're telling me you stole from Marco Russo? Are you out of your fucking mind, Luca?"Enzo's voice echoed through the safehouse, a ramshackle cabin on the outskirts of the city. Sofia winced at the volume, her head pounding from the stress and adrenaline crash of their escape.Luca, still in his rumpled tuxedo, ran a hand through his disheveled hair. "We didn't have a choice, Enzo. It was our only shot at bringing him down."Sofia watched the exchange from her perch on a worn couch, feeling like an outsider in this world of dangerous men and high-stakes gambles. The weight of what they'd done – what she'd done – was starting to sink in."And what about her?" Enzo jerked his head towards Sofia. "You've dragged her into this mess. There's no going back now."Luca's eyes met Sofia's, and she saw a flicker of guilt there. "She made her own choice," he said softly. "I didn't force her into anything."Sofia stood, drawing both men's attention. "I'm right here, you know. And Luca's right.

  • The Don's Dilemma   Chapter 9

    "We've got company."Enzo's urgent whisper jolted Sofia from her fitful sleep. She blinked, disoriented, as Luca burst into the room, his expression grim."Get dressed," he ordered, tossing her a bundle of clothes. "We need to move. Now."Sofia's heart raced as she scrambled out of bed, pulling on the jeans and sweater Luca had provided. "What's happening?""Your father's men found us," Luca explained, his eyes scanning the room for potential weapons or exits. "We've got maybe five minutes before they breach the perimeter."As if on cue, a distant shout echoed through the pre-dawn air. Sofia's hands shook as she tied her shoes. This was real. This was happening.Luca's warm hand on her shoulder steadied her. "Hey," he said softly, his dark eyes intense. "I've got you. Trust me?"Sofia nodded, unable to speak past the lump in her throat. Luca's lips quirked in a half-smile, and for a moment, the danger faded away. It was just the two of them, connected by something deeper than either d

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    "We've got a problem," Enzo announced, bursting into Elena's living room where Sofia and Luca were poring over the decrypted ledger.Luca's head snapped up, his body instantly tense. "What is it?"Enzo tossed a newspaper onto the coffee table. The headline screamed: "RUSSO HEIRESS MISSING - FOUL PLAY SUSPECTED."Sofia's stomach dropped as she scanned the article. Her father had reported her missing, claiming she'd been kidnapped by rival gangsters. There was even a substantial reward offered for information leading to her safe return."Fuck," Luca muttered, running a hand through his hair. "This complicates things."Sofia felt a hysterical laugh bubble up in her throat. "Complicates things? Luca, my father just turned the entire city into a hunting ground. We're screwed."Luca's hand found hers, giving it a reassuring squeeze. The warmth of his touch sent a shiver down her spine, momentarily distracting her from the panic threatening to overwhelm her."We're not screwed," he said, his

  • The Don's Dilemma   Chapter 11

    "Stay down!" Luca's voice cut through the chaos as another hail of bullets shattered what remained of the cabin windows.Sofia's heart pounded in her ears as she huddled behind the couch, her hands shaking as she gripped the gun Luca had given her. She'd never fired a weapon before, and the weight of it felt foreign and terrifying in her hands.Luca moved with the fluid grace of a predator, his own gun an extension of his arm as he returned fire. The sharp crack of gunshots filled the air, punctuated by the splintering of wood and the tinkling of broken glass."We need to move," Luca growled, his eyes scanning the room for an escape route. "There's a trapdoor in the bedroom, leads to a tunnel. We can use it to get to the garage."Sofia nodded, her throat too tight with fear to speak. As another volley of bullets rained down, Luca grabbed her hand, pulling her into a crouch."On my mark," he said, his voice low and intense. "We run. Don't stop, don't look back. Just follow me. Ready?"

  • The Don's Dilemma   Chapter 12

    "Well, well, well. If it isn't the prodigal son and his runaway princess."Vivian Blackwood's voice dripped with sarcasm as she led Sofia and Luca into her office. The room was a stark contrast to the nondescript exterior of the building – sleek, modern, and filled with cutting-edge technology.Luca rolled his eyes, but Sofia could see the fondness in his expression. "Good to see you too, Viv. Thanks for meeting us on such short notice."Vivian waved a hand dismissively, settling into a plush leather chair behind her desk. "When the great Luca Moretti calls in a favor, who am I to refuse? Especially when it comes with such... interesting company."Her piercing gaze settled on Sofia, who fought the urge to squirm. She felt like Vivian was looking right through her, reading every secret, every fear."Sofia Russo," Vivian said, a hint of amusement in her voice. "I've been following your career with interest. Never thought I'd see you on this side of the law, though."Sofia lifted her chi

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    "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

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    "Sofia, don't do this." Luca's voice was low, a dangerous edge to his words that sent a shiver down Sofia's spine.She kept the gun steady, her gaze flicking between Luca and her father. The warehouse was so quiet she could hear her own heart pounding in her ears."Sorry, Luca," she said, her voice steadier than she felt. "But I'm done being a pawn in everyone else's game."Marco Russo's laugh cut through the tension like a knife. "Well, well. It seems my daughter has more spine than I gave her credit for. But do you really have what it takes to pull that trigger, Sofia?"Sofia's grip on the gun tightened. "Want to find out?"For a moment, no one moved. Then, everything happened at once.A shot rang out, the sound echoing off the warehouse walls. Glass shattered overhead as Enzo crashed through a skylight, raining down a hail of gunfire. In the chaos, Luca lunged for Giulia, while Elena took advantage of the distraction to headbutt one of her captors.Sofia's world narrowed to a serie

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  • The Don's Dilemma   Chapter 29

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    "You shouldn't have come alone, Sofia."The voice echoed through the cavernous warehouse, sending a chill down Sofia's spine. She squinted into the darkness, trying to locate its source."Who's there?" she called out, her voice steadier than she felt. "Show yourself."A figure emerged from the shadows, and Sofia's breath caught in her throat. It was Giulia, Luca's sister."Giulia? What are you doing here?" Sofia asked, confusion and wariness warring inside her.Giulia's face was a mask of calm, but her eyes held a storm. "I'm here to tell you the truth, Sofia. The truth about my brother."Sofia's heart raced. This was it - the moment she'd been both dreading and longing for. "What truth? What happened in Geneva?"Giulia let out a bitter laugh. "Geneva was just the beginning. There's so much you don't know about Luca, Sofia. So much he's kept hidden, even from me."She reached into her jacket and pulled out a thick file. "Everything's in here. Every dirty secret, every lie. Are you sur

  • The Don's Dilemma   Chapter 27

    "Careful with that, it might be rigged," Vincent warned as Sofia reached for the handle of Luca's office safe.Sofia paused, her hand hovering inches from the cold metal. The office was dark, illuminated only by the city lights filtering through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Every shadow seemed to hold a potential threat."You really think Luca would booby-trap his own safe?" she asked, glancing back at Vincent.He shrugged, eyes scanning the room. "In our world, you can never be too careful. Especially now."Sofia nodded, turning back to the safe. She input the code Luca had given her during their coded conversation at the detention center. With a soft click, the door swung open.Inside, nestled among stacks of cash and various documents, was a single USB drive."This has to be it," Sofia murmured, reaching for the device.Suddenly, the lights flicked on. Sofia and Vincent whirled around to find Detective Anna Torres standing in the doorway, gun drawn."Step away from the safe, Ms. R

  • The Don's Dilemma   Chapter 26

    The hospital corridors seemed longer and more oppressive than Sofia remembered as she made her way to her father's room. Vincent walked a few paces behind her, a silent but reassuring presence.As they approached Marco Russo's room, Sofia paused, her hand on the door handle. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was to come."I'll be right out here," Vincent murmured, taking up a position by the door.Sofia nodded, grateful for his support, and pushed the door open.The sight of her father, propped up in the hospital bed, hit her like a physical blow. Marco Russo had always been a larger-than-life figure in Sofia's eyes - powerful, intimidating, untouchable. Now, he looked small and fragile, his skin pale against the white sheets.His eyes lit up as she entered. "Sofia," he rasped, his voice weak but filled with warmth. "My little girl. You came."For a moment, Sofia felt like a child again, wanting nothing more than to run to her father's side and be comforted. But she fo

  • The Don's Dilemma   Chapter 25

    The safe house was a flurry of activity when Sofia and Elena arrived. Giulia had assembled a team of lawyers, hackers, and what Sofia could only assume were some of Luca's most trusted associates. The air crackled with tension and purpose.Giulia looked up as they entered, relief evident in her eyes. "Thank God you're here," she said, pulling Sofia into a quick hug. "We've got a lot to cover and not much time."Sofia nodded, her lawyer's mind already kicking into high gear. "What do we know so far?"A tall, lean man with salt-and-pepper hair stepped forward. "Detective Torres is building her case on circumstantial evidence and a supposed eyewitness," he said, his voice gravelly. "We're working on discrediting both.""Sofia, this is Vincent," Giulia introduced. "He's our head of security and... information acquisition."Sofia understood the implication. Vincent was likely the one responsible for much of the dirt they had on their enemies. She filed that information away for later."Wha

  • The Don's Dilemma   Chapter 24

    The antiseptic smell of the hospital assaulted Sofia's senses as they walked through the sliding doors. The fluorescent lights cast a harsh glow over everything, making the world feel surreal and slightly off-kilter. Luca's hand on the small of her back was the only thing keeping her grounded.Elena led the way to the intensive care unit, her medical credentials allowing them to bypass the usual visitor restrictions. As they approached the nurses' station, a familiar voice called out."Well, well. The prodigal daughter returns."Sofia turned to see her older brother, Antonio, leaning against the wall. His eyes were bloodshot, his usually impeccable suit rumpled. The sight of him sent a pang through Sofia's heart – a reminder of the family she'd left behind."Antonio," she said, her voice carefully neutral. "How is he?"Antonio's laugh was bitter. "Oh, now you care? Where were you when he needed you, Sofia? Off playing house with the enemy?"Luca tensed beside her, but Sofia placed a r

  • The Don's Dilemma   Chapter 23

    The soft glow of dawn was just beginning to stretch across the sky as Sofia awoke, her body nestled against Luca's warm chest. For a moment, she allowed herself to bask in the peace of the early morning, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.But reality soon intruded, bringing with it the weight of their current predicament. Detective Torres' words from the previous day echoed in her mind, a persistent reminder of the dangers they faced.Sofia carefully extricated herself from Luca's embrace, padding quietly to the bathroom. As she splashed cold water on her face, she studied her reflection in the mirror. The woman staring back at her was a far cry from the idealistic lawyer she'd been just weeks ago.A soft knock on the door startled her from her reverie."Sofia?" Luca's voice was rough with sleep. "Everything okay?"She opened the door, offering him a small smile. "Just thinking," she replied, leaning against the doorframe.Luca's eyes, still heavy-lidded from sleep, sear

  • The Don's Dilemma   Chapter 22

    The sleek black SUV rolled to a stop in front of an imposing warehouse on the outskirts of the city. Sofia took a deep breath, steadying her nerves as she glanced at Luca in the driver's seat. His jaw was set, eyes focused ahead with an intensity that both thrilled and terrified her."Ready?" Luca asked, his voice low and steady.Sofia nodded, straightening her blazer. "As I'll ever be."They exited the vehicle, flanked by Giulia and two of Luca's most trusted guards. The warehouse loomed before them, its weathered exterior belying the high-stakes meeting about to take place inside.As they approached the entrance, a burly man stepped forward, his hand resting on the gun at his hip. "Weapons," he grunted.Luca's eyes narrowed. "You know the rules, Antonio. We keep our pieces."Antonio's lip curled into a sneer. "New management, new rules. Hand 'em over or turn around."Sofia felt the tension radiating from Luca. She placed a gentle hand on his arm, feeling the corded muscles beneath h

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