Page 19 of Tormented Hearts

Luca’s eyes narrowed, his expression hardening as his fists clenched at his sides. The Romero’s had made their intentions clear. They weren’t just trying to take his territory—they were trying to take Phoenix, to use her against him. And for that, there would be no mercy.

Without a word, Luca crossed the room to where Phoenix sat, her arms wrapped tightly around herself, her eyes wide and filled with a mixture of fear and relief when she saw him.

"Luca," she whispered, her voice trembling as she stood up.

The second she was within reach, Luca pulled her into his arms, holding her so tightly it was as if he feared she might disappear. Phoenix melted into him, her body still shaking from the adrenaline, but she clung to him just as fiercely.

"You’re okay," Luca muttered, his voice rough as he buried his face in her hair. "You’re safe now."

Phoenix nodded; her breath shaky as she pressed her face against his chest. "I—I thought they were going to take me," she whispered, her voice filled with the raw fear she had been holding back.

Luca’s jaw tightened, his grip on her tightening protectively. "I will kill anyone that tries to take you from me," he growled.

After holding her for a long moment, Luca pulls back just enough to look into Phoenix’s eyes. There is a raw, protective fire in his gaze—one that tells her just how far he would go to keep her safe. But beneath that fire was something more. Something darker. His anger wasn’t just about protection—it was about revenge.

"Where are they?" Luca asked, his voice low and dangerous as he turns to Miguel.

Miguel doesn’t hesitate. "Two of them are still alive. The rest... didn’t make it."

Luca’s lips curl into a cold, dangerous smile. "Good. Bring them to me."

Phoenix’s breath catches at the hardness in his voice. She can see it in his eyes—he is out for blood. The men who had attacked her, who had dared to invade his home, weren’t just going to die. Luca was going to make them suffer.

"Luca," Phoenix whispers, her voice trembling as she reaches for him. "Don’t—"

But Luca shakes his head, his gaze softening only for a moment as he cups her face in his hands. "This is the price they pay, Phoenix. No one touches what’s mine and gets away with it."

Phoenix swallows hard, her heart pounding. She understands that Luca lives by a different set of rules, that his world is built on violence and power. But the idea of him exacting revenge—of him going to such dark lengths—makes her stomach twist with unease.

Miguel returns moments later, dragging the two surviving Romero men into the room. They are bloodied, barely conscious, but alive. Luca’s eyes darken as he steps toward them, his fists clenched at his sides.

"You thought you could take what’s mine," Luca growls, his voice low and filled with menace. "You thought you could come into my home, put your hands on her, and walk away?"

One of the men groans, struggling to lift his head. "Please," he gasps, his voice weak. "We didn’t know—"

Luca’s fist connects with the man’s jaw before he can finish the sentence, the sickening crack of bone filling the room. The man’s head snaps back, blood spilling from his mouth as he slumps to the floor.

"I don’t care what you know," Luca snarls, standing over the man’s crumpled form. "You made your choice. Now you’ll pay for it."

Phoenix’s heart pounds in her chest as she watches Luca unleash his fury. She has seen him angry before, seen the dark, possessive side of him that rules over the Tempo empire. Butthis was different. This was pure, unbridled rage—an anger that would only be satisfied by blood.

Miguel stands by, watching silently, his expression unreadable. This was the way of their world. Violence begets violence, and the only way to maintain control was through fear. But Phoenix wasn’t a part of that world. She wasn’t used to this level of brutality, this raw display of power.

She wanted to stop him, wanted to pull him back from the edge. But deep down, she knew it wouldn’t work. Luca was too far gone. The Romero’s had crossed a line, and now they would pay the price for it.

Luca moves to the second man, who is cowering on the floor, his eyes wide with fear. "Please," the man whimpers. "We were just following orders—"

Luca’s boot connects with the man’s ribs, sending him sprawling across the floor with a grunt of pain. "You should have thought of that before you came after her," Luca growls.

He turns to Miguel, his expression cold and ruthless. "Finish them."

Miguel nods, stepping forward with his gun drawn. The two men don’t have time to react before the shots ring out, their bodies falling limp to the floor.

Phoenix flinches at the sound, her heart heavy as she watches the blood pool around the dead men. She knows this is Luca’s world, that this is the way things are done. But that doesn’t make it any easier to stomach.

Luca turns back to her, his expression softening as he reaches for her. "It’s over," he says, his voice low as he pulls her into his arms. "You’re safe now."

But Phoenix wasn’t sure if she would ever truly feel safe in a world where violence was the answer to everything. She wasn’t sure if she could reconcile the man, she was starting to care for with the brutal mafia boss who had just ordered two men’s deaths without hesitation.

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