Emma’s POVThe air in the restaurant felt oppressive, like the weight of Luca’s world was pressing down on me. It wasn’t just the opulence that surrounded us—the glistening chandeliers, the velvet drapes, the waiters dressed better than most people on their wedding day—it was Luca himself. His presence loomed large, larger than life, larger than this room.I wanted to believe I had control over myself, over my emotions, but it was getting harder. His words from earlier still echoed in my mind, the sharp reminder that I was in his world now, playing by his rules. He made it clear that this was a game, and while I wanted to hate him for it, there was a twisted part of me that almost... almost admired his audacity.The champagne flute in my hand trembled slightly, and I tightened my grip, willing myself to appear unbothered. But Luca’s piercing gaze caught every movement, every falter. He smirked, as if he could see straight through me, past the defiance I was desperately clinging to.“S
Luca’s POVThere’s a certain thrill that comes with control. Watching Emma fight against the current, clawing for the illusion of power in a world I already own, is a game I never tire of playing. She doesn’t understand yet, not fully. She sees the money, the extravagance, and thinks it’s arrogance. But arrogance has no place in my world—it’s a weakness. What I do is survival, and survival is never cheap.As we stepped into the penthouse, I felt her hesitation. Emma’s footsteps faltered, her resistance unspoken but palpable. She was trying to build walls, fortify herself against me, but it was pointless. My world is built on tearing walls down.“You’re quiet,” I said, watching her.She crossed her arms, a defensive stance I’d seen countless times before. “What do you want me to say? That I understand your philosophy? That I agree with you?”I smirked, shrugging off my jacket and tossing it onto the nearest chair. “I don’t expect you to agree with me. That’s not how this works.”Her ey
Emma’s POVThe kiss lingered on my lips like a brand, a constant reminder of Luca’s control over every inch of my life. He thought he had me figured out, thought he could own me with his arrogance, his money, and his overwhelming presence. But as I stood on the deck of his ridiculously extravagant yacht, watching the city lights shrink into the horizon, I couldn’t help but feel trapped—caught between my defiance and the undeniable pull he had over me.The ocean breeze tangled my hair, and the sound of the waves was a small comfort. I leaned against the railing, desperate for some kind of clarity, but all I found was the memory of his lips, his touch, and the maddening fact that, for a moment, I’d kissed him back.Damn him.Behind me, the staff moved with practiced precision, setting out trays of food that looked like they belonged in an art museum rather than on a dining table. Every movement screamed wealth—Luca’s wealth. The gold-rimmed plates, the champagne that probably cost more
Luca’s POVThe soft sway of the yacht beneath my feet was the only thing grounding me as I stood at the edge of the deck, staring into the endless expanse of the ocean. Emma’s words lingered in the back of my mind, taunting me like a cruel echo. She didn’t need my protection? She had no idea how wrong she was.I swirled the glass of bourbon in my hand, the liquid catching the faint glow of the yacht’s extravagant lighting. The yacht itself was a masterpiece, built to flaunt wealth and power—one hundred and fifty feet of pure opulence. Every detail, from the custom Italian leather furnishings to the hand-carved mahogany railings, screamed excess.I didn’t do half-measures. Not in life, not in business, and certainly not in the game I was playing with Emma. She wanted to resist me? Fine. But she’d learn—everything had a price, and I was more than willing to pay it.I glanced back toward the main cabin, where I’d left her earlier. The memory of her standing there, defiant and vulnerable
Emma’s POVThe villa in Saint-Tropez was a dream wrapped in luxury, but to me, it felt like a gilded cage. Every inch of it screamed Luca—imposing, extravagant, and inescapable. The sprawling estate overlooked the Mediterranean, its pristine waters reflecting the moonlight like a sea of liquid silver. I stood on the balcony of my room, gripping the cold iron railing, trying to calm the storm brewing inside me.Luca had done it again—dragged me into his world without a shred of consent. My thoughts churned with frustration and indignation as the sea breeze whipped through my hair. I was his pawn in a game I didn’t understand, a trophy displayed in his opulent life.The sound of the villa’s staff moving efficiently downstairs pulled me from my thoughts. Even at this hour, they bustled about, ensuring every detail was flawless. Luca’s orders were law, and no one dared defy him—not even me, though I hated to admit it.The memory of his words on the yacht lingered, cutting deeper than I wa
Luca’s POVThe painting lingered in my mind long after Emma stormed away, her words cutting deeper than I’d ever admit aloud.“I’ll never be one of your possessions.”Her defiance was intoxicating, even as it grated against my need for control. She didn’t understand yet—not fully—what I was trying to do. But she would. She had to.I stood in the gallery long after the guests had left, my gaze fixed on the portrait I’d had commissioned in secret. It was one of a kind, just like her, and cost me more than some men earned in a lifetime. Money meant nothing to me, not when it came to Emma.The sound of my phone vibrating broke the silence. I pulled it from my pocket, glancing at the name flashing on the screen.“Speak.”“The shipment has been secured,” Riccardo said on the other end. “But we ran into trouble at the port. Someone tipped off the feds.”“Of course they did,” I said, my voice calm despite the rage boiling beneath the surface. “Handle it. Double the payout to our contacts. I d
Emma’s POVVenice was nothing short of breathtaking. The city glimmered like a living jewel, with the canals reflecting the golden hues of the setting sun. Luca had been quiet as we arrived, his smirk giving away nothing, but I knew better than to believe his silence meant peace. Everything he did had a purpose, a calculated move in a game I wasn’t sure I understood yet.From the moment we stepped onto the dock of the Danieli, it was as if the world had been remade to fit Luca’s vision of luxury. Staff bowed as though we were royalty, their polished manners and discreet smiles making it clear they knew exactly who he was. Or maybe they just knew better than to ask questions.The suite we were staying in wasn’t just a room—it was an entire floor. Gold accents, hand-painted murals on the ceilings, and silk-draped windows that framed the Rialto Bridge in the distance. It screamed excess, but that was Luca. Everything about him was larger than life, from the money he threw around like con
Luca’s POVEmma had no idea how much power she wielded over me. Her defiance, her strength, her stubborn refusal to fall in line—it should have irritated me, yet it intrigued me instead. She was fire wrapped in silk, daring me to get closer despite the risk of being burned.As the door to the bedroom clicked shut behind her, I stood there for a moment, staring at the gilded edge of the frame. I should have walked away, left her to stew in her frustration, but I found myself rooted in place, the echo of her challenge ringing in my ears.She thought she knew me. Thought she had me all figured out—the cold, ruthless mafia king who threw money at problems until they disappeared. But Emma Carter was no problem to be solved. She was chaos in its purest form, and the more she fought me, the more I wanted to claim her completely.I turned and poured myself a drink from the crystal decanter on the sideboard. The whiskey was older than some countries, a reminder of the life I’d built from blood
Emma’s & Luca’s POV (Combined POV, Epilogue)Emma’s POVI had always wondered if love was something that could truly save you. I used to think it was just a fleeting feeling, something that passed, something that couldn’t bear the weight of life’s complexities. But standing here, with Luca beside me, I realized that love wasn’t just a feeling—it was a force. A force that had pulled us through the worst of times and brought us to this moment.I watched Luca from across the room. He was sitting at the desk in the study, looking out over the sprawling estate that had once felt like a prison, but now felt like a home. The weight of the past was still there, but it wasn’t a burden anymore. It was just a part of us, woven into the fabric of who we had become.Luca’s hand moved over the documents in front of him, but his focus was elsewhere. He was thinking, just like I was. About everything we had overcome. About everything we had fought for.I stood up and walked over to him slowly, the ba
Emma’s POVThe morning light filtered softly through the curtains, casting a warm, golden glow over the room. I could feel the weight of Luca’s body beside me, his steady breathing a comforting sound. It had been a long time since I had woken up to this peace—this quiet certainty that, no matter what happened, everything would be okay.I shifted slightly in the bed, not wanting to disturb him, but craving the closeness that we shared. I rested my hand gently over my stomach, feeling the slight movement of the baby inside me. Our child. The child that had brought us closer, and in a way, had healed so many wounds between us.The events of the past few days seemed so far away now. The tension, the fear, the uncertainties—they all felt distant, replaced by something else. Something tangible. Something real.I glanced at Luca, his face relaxed in sleep, the hard lines of his jaw softened in a moment of vulnerability. It was a side of him I didn’t often get to see. The Luca I knew was the
Emma’s POVThe morning light filtered softly through the curtains, casting a warm, golden glow over the room. I could feel the weight of Luca’s body beside me, his steady breathing a comforting sound. It had been a long time since I had woken up to this peace—this quiet certainty that, no matter what happened, everything would be okay.I shifted slightly in the bed, not wanting to disturb him, but craving the closeness that we shared. I rested my hand gently over my stomach, feeling the slight movement of the baby inside me. Our child. The child that had brought us closer, and in a way, had healed so many wounds between us.The events of the past few days seemed so far away now. The tension, the fear, the uncertainties—they all felt distant, replaced by something else. Something tangible. Something real.I glanced at Luca, his face relaxed in sleep, the hard lines of his jaw softened in a moment of vulnerability. It was a side of him I didn’t often get to see. The Luca I knew was the
Luca’s POVI stood in the doorway, watching Emma as she moved around the kitchen, her presence consuming every inch of the space. It was almost too much to take in. How many times had I found myself in this position, silently observing her, unsure of what the future held but knowing that she was the one constant I could rely on?Her pregnancy had shifted something between us. I could feel the change in the air. Not just because of the child we were expecting, but because of the subtle, quiet intimacy that had begun to envelop our relationship. It wasn’t the fiery passion we’d once known—though that still flickered beneath the surface—but something deeper, something that tethered us together. It was the unspoken promise of loyalty, of building something lasting. Together.I’d never been the type to wear my heart on my sleeve. I didn’t show vulnerability, not the way other men might. But with Emma, it was different.The silence between us was comfortable now. No longer thick with uncert
Emma’s POVI leaned against the counter, staring at the small, almost insignificant pregnancy test that lay there, staring back at me. It felt like the weight of the world was in that little plastic stick, its truth just hanging there, waiting for me to fully comprehend it. The reality of it was still so fresh, so surreal, that I couldn’t quite process it. I was pregnant. And Luca—my husband, my partner, my betrayer turned savior—was going to be a father. A father to the child we’d conceived out of love and conflict, joy and pain. The thought should have filled me with more fear, but it didn’t.Instead, it stirred something deeper. Something undeniably tender. It was as if this little person growing inside of me was a symbol of all that had happened and all that was yet to come.The door to the kitchen opened, and I didn’t need to turn to know it was Luca. I could feel him, his presence as palpable as ever. He had this way of walking into a room that made everything feel like it was h
Luca's POVThe tension in the air felt heavier than it had in days, suffocating me with each passing minute. Emma had asked for time, and for once, I was going to give it to her. The selfish part of me—the one that still longed to close the gap between us and erase the pain of the past—wanted to push, to demand things move forward. But I had learned my lesson the hard way. No more rushing, no more pressing her for answers or action. She was right. She needed space, and I was going to respect that. But that didn’t make the waiting any easier.I leaned against the doorframe, watching her from across the room. She was standing by the window, her back to me, as the soft glow of the evening light bathed her in warmth. Even from this distance, I could feel the pull between us, an invisible thread that tethered me to her, no matter how much I tried to resist it.It had been days since that conversation, the one where she told me she wasn’t sure about us. Days that had felt like weeks. I hadn
Emma's POVThe weight of the silence in the house was unbearable. Every step I took felt heavy, like my body was still trying to recover from the conversation with Luca. I couldn’t shake the image of him standing at the door, his hand frozen on the handle, his expression a mix of frustration and guilt. I knew he was struggling, but I wasn’t sure how much longer I could let him wear that expression on his face.I had given him the space he needed, the time he asked for, but it didn’t feel like enough. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the vulnerability in his gaze, the raw emotion he had tried so desperately to hide. He wasn’t the same man who had hurt me before; that much was clear. But was that enough for me to let him in again?My mind kept replaying everything that had happened between us. There had been so many promises, so many moments of tenderness, but I couldn’t erase the past. I couldn’t pretend that what had happened before didn’t matter. Luca had hurt me in ways I couldn’t
Luca's POVI could still feel her presence in the room, lingering like smoke long after she had gone. Emma had walked away, but the weight of her words had settled in my chest, a heavy reminder that things could never be as simple as I wanted them to be. There was a part of me that believed we could move forward together, but she wasn’t ready. She wasn’t ready to trust me. She wasn’t ready to forget all the things I had done to her.I stood at the door for a moment, my hand still hovering over the handle, but I couldn’t bring myself to turn back. The silence between us had become a wall, thicker than ever, and I wasn’t sure how to break it down. I wasn’t used to this kind of rejection, especially from someone who had once been my everything.I didn’t know what I expected when I had told her the truth, when I had tried to show her a side of me that I thought she could trust. But I had underestimated the depth of her pain. She wasn’t just angry at me; she was scared. Scared that I would
Emma's POVThe silence between us hung heavy, thicker than it ever had been. I had no idea what to say, no idea how to process the weight of what Luca had just told me. He wasn’t asking for forgiveness, he wasn’t asking for my love, but there was a quiet strength in his words. It was something I hadn’t expected. Maybe that was the problem: I didn’t know what to expect from him anymore. His actions, his words, had always been unpredictable—except when it came to the one thing that always stayed the same: his need to control.And now, he was asking me to let go of that control. To trust him, to give him the space to show me that he had changed. But the truth was, I didn’t know if I could. I didn’t know if I could ever stop seeing him as the man who had taken everything from me.My fingers tightened around the edge of the table, the sensation of the wood grounding me in a reality I wasn’t sure I wanted to face. Every part of me was screaming to pull away, to protect myself. To walk out o