Page 11 of Tormented Hearts

Luca’s phone buzzed on the seat beside him, the screen lighting up with another message from Miguel. He snatched it up, his eyes darting over the words.

We’ve got eyes on her. She’s near the old docks, heading toward the warehouses.

Luca’s heart surged with a mix of relief and rage. She was still close. Still within reach.

PHOENIX 7

The moment they dragged her back into the penthouse, Phoenix could feel it—the crackling energy of Luca’s fury. He was waiting for her, standing in the centre of the room, his dark blue eyes burning with an intensity that made her blood run cold. The door slammed shut behind her, and she could hear the heavy footsteps of the men retreating, leaving her alone with him.

Luca didn’t speak at first. He just stood there, staring at her as though he could barely contain the rage simmering beneath the surface. His jaw was clenched, his fists balled at his sides, the tattoos on his forearms rippling with tension. Phoenix could feel the weight of his anger, pressing down on her, making it hard to breathe.

"You tried to run from me," he finally said, his voice low and dangerous, like a storm on the verge of breaking. "You thought you could escape me?"

Phoenix took a step back, her heart pounding in her chest. "Luca, I—"

"Shut up!" His voice exploded, and in one swift motion, he grabbed the nearest object—a heavy, expensive sculpture—and hurled it against the wall. The sound of it shattering echoed through the room, pieces flying in all directions.

Phoenix flinched, her body trembling as she cowered in fear. She had seen Luca angry before, but never like this. This was a fury that was wild, uncontrollable, and it terrified her.

Luca moved toward her, his steps slow and deliberate, like a predator closing in on its prey. Phoenix tried to back away, but there was nowhere to go. He was on her in seconds, his handfisting in her hair, pulling her head back so she was forced to look up at him.

"Do you have any idea what you’ve done?" he hissed, his breath hot against her face. "You belong to me, Phoenix. You don’t get to leave. You don’t get to run."

Tears stung the corners of her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. "I’m not your property," she whispered, though the words came out shaky and weak.

Luca’s grip tightened in her hair, and he let out a low, humourless laugh. "You are mine," he said, his voice rough with possessiveness. "You’ve been mine since the moment I saw you. And now, I’m going to remind you of that."

With one harsh tug, Luca ripped the t-shirt from her body, the fabric tearing easily in his hands. Phoenix gasped, her skin exposed to the cool air, but Luca wasn’t gentle. His touch was rough, punishing, as he stripped her bare of her jeans and her underwear.

Phoenix tried to cover herself, but Luca was relentless, pulling her arms away and leaving her naked before him.

"You thought you could leave me?" he growled; his voice thick with anger as he pushed her toward the centre of the room. "You think you have a choice in this? You’re mine, Phoenix. You’ll always be mine."

Her body trembled with a mixture of fear and something darker that she didn’t want to acknowledge. She hated how her body responded to him, how the raw power in his presence made her feel weak and vulnerable. Luca’s dominance was terrifying, but there was no denying the pull he had over her.

Luca stepped back, his eyes roaming over her naked body, his gaze burning with fury and possession. "You will never run fromme again," he said, his voice deadly calm now, which somehow frightened her even more. "Do you understand?"

Phoenix nodded; her throat too tight to speak. She could feel the hot sting of tears threatening to fall, but she blinked them back, refusing to let him see her cry.

"Say it," Luca demanded, his voice like steel.

"I... I understand," Phoenix whispered, her voice barely audible.

Luca’s expression remained hard, unyielding. He stalked toward her again, his hand cupping her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. "You’re going to stay here, like this," he said coldly, "until you learn that there is no escaping me." Dropping his hand, he snaps around making his way out of the room. The energy around him vibrating with anger.

The hours passed in a blur, and Phoenix remained in the apartment, naked and vulnerable, the weight of Luca’s anger still heavy in the air. She felt humiliated, broken, and yet beneath the fear, there was something else—a dark, confusing thrill that she couldn’t quite explain.

Luca had left her alone for the time being, but she knew he wasn’t far. His fury had burned bright, but it had not yet fully extinguished. He was testing her, pushing her limits, reminding her of the power he held over her.

Phoenix curled up on the couch, her arms wrapped around her body, her mind spinning. She hated him, didn’t she? She should. But the truth was, she didn’t know anymore. Every time she thought she had found her strength, Luca broke it down again, and she was left feeling more confused than before.

But one thing was clear—Luca would never let her go.

Hours passed, though they felt like days, as Phoenix sat curled up on the couch, her body bare and her mind racing. The roomwas silent now, but Luca’s fury still hung in the air, palpable, like the lingering smoke after a wildfire. She had never felt more vulnerable, more exposed, both physically and emotionally.

She should hate him for what he had done—for the way he had ripped away her dignity, leaving her trembling and naked before him. But her emotions were a mess of contradictions. Beneath the fear, beneath the humiliation, there was a heat simmering in her core, a forbidden desire she didn’t want to admit. How could she feel this way after everything? How could she want the man who had just torn her world apart?

But want him she did.

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