Page 34 of Tormented Hearts

Before Phoenix could respond, Luca takes a step forward, his expression filled with fury. “Get out, Bianca,” he orders, his voice ice-cold. “Now.”

Bianca’s smirk falters for a brief moment, but she recovers quickly, flipping her hair over her shoulder as she steps back. “Fine,” she replies with a shrug, her tone still light. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you, Luca. You know where to find me when you change your mind.”

With that, Bianca turns and makes her way out of the penthouse, leaving a heavy silence in her wake.

The door clicks shut behind Bianca, and the tension in the room was palpable. Phoenix stands frozen, her heart pounding in her chest, her mind racing with a thousand different thoughts. She had never felt so out of place, so unsure of where she stood in Luca’s world.

Luca turns to her, his face softening as he steps closer, his hand resting gently on her arm. “Phoenix—”

“Who is she?” Phoenix asks, her voice barely more than a whisper, but there is an edge of frustration in her tone that she couldn’t hide. “And what does she want with you?”

Luca sighs, running a hand through his hair as he glances toward the door. “Bianca’s been a part of my world for a long time,” he admits. “She’s... complicated. She wants more than what I’m willing to give her.”

Phoenix swallows hard, her heart aching at the thought. She didn’t know the full story, but it was clear that Bianca was more than just a passing annoyance. She was a threat—a threat to everything Phoenix and Luca were building together.

“And what about us?” Phoenix asks, her voice trembling slightly. “Where do I fit into all of this?”

Luca’s eyes soften as he steps closer, his hand reaching out to cup her cheek. “You’re everything to me,” he answers quietly, his voice filled with sincerity. “Bianca is nothing but the past. You’re my future.”

Phoenix’s heart swells at his words, but the doubt still lingers in the back of her mind. She had seen the way Bianca looked at him, the way she spoke with confidence, like she knew she had some claim on Luca. And that scared her.

“But what if she’s right?” Phoenix asks, her voice catching. “What if I’m just a distraction? What if you can’t fight this war and... and be with me?”

Luca’s jaw tightens, his hand slipping down to rest on her shoulders as he pulls her closer. “You’re not a distraction, Phoenix,” he says firmly. “You’re the reason I’m fighting. And I won’t let anyone—especially not Bianca—come between us.”

Phoenix looks into his eyes, her heart heavy with emotion. She wanted to believe him, wanted to trust that he could protect her and still lead the life he had chosen. But the fear was still there, gnawing at the edges of her resolve.

Luca leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. “I promise you,” he murmurs against her skin. “I’m not letting you go.”

LUCA 18

The night of the meeting arrived like a storm cloud on the horizon—heavy and dark with the weight of uncertainty. Luca is standing in front of the mirror in his bedroom, adjusting his cufflinks with steady hands, though his mind is anything but calm. The Romero’s had requested the truce, but Luca knew better than to trust them. Desperation made men dangerous, and the Romero’s were desperate.

He turns slightly, catching sight of Phoenix out of the corner of his eye. She is sitting on the edge of the bed, her hands resting in her lap, her face pale with worry. Ever since Bianca had come into the picture, the tension between them had grown. Phoenix tried to be strong, but Luca could see the weight of the situation pressing down on her.

Luca crosses the room, his footsteps quiet as he moves toward her. Kneeling down in front of her, his hands resting on her knees he looks up into her eyes.

“Hey,” he calls softly, his voice low and calm. “I’m going to handle this. You don’t need to worry.”

Phoenix’s eyes flicked to his, her lips pressed into a tight line. “How can I not worry?” she whispers, her voice trembling slightly. “You’re walking into a meeting with people who want to kill you, Luca. And I don’t think Bianca—is done. I can feel it.”

Luca’s jaw tightens at the mention of Bianca. He hadn’t seen her since the incident in the penthouse, but he knew she was still out there, lurking in the shadows, waiting for her moment. It infuriated him to think that Phoenix had to bear the burden of someone like Bianca. But he couldn’t afford to lose focus now.

“I’m not letting Bianca or the Romero’s get the upper hand,” Luca promises firmly, his hands tightening slightly on Phoenix’s knees. “I’ve got Miguel and the men ready. We’ll have eyes on every exit. If this is a trap, we’ll be prepared.”

Phoenix swallows hard, her hands trembling slightly as she reaches out and placed them on Luca’s shoulders. “I don’t want to lose you,” she whispers, her voice filled with fear and vulnerability.

Luca’s heart clenches at the raw emotion in her voice. He had always been so focused on protecting her physically, on keeping her safe from the violence of his world, that he hadn’t fully considered the emotional toll it was taking on her. She wasn’t just afraid for her life—she was afraid for his too.

“You won’t lose me,” Luca promises, his voice soft but filled with resolve. He leans in, pressing a tender kiss to her lips. “I’m coming back to you. I swear it.”

Phoenix closes her eyes, leaning into the kiss, her hands tightening around his shoulders as if she can hold onto him, to anchor him to her. When they pull apart, her eyes are filled with unshed tears, but she nods, her trust in him clear.

“I believe you,” she whispers.

Luca stands, his hand brushing lightly against her cheek before he turns to leave. He doesn’t want to draw this moment out any longer than necessary. The sooner he faces the Romero’s, the sooner he can put an end to this war and come back to her.

The meeting had been arranged at a neutral location—an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city, far from the bustling streets of Palermo. It was the kind of place where deals were made in secret, where no one asked questions, and where blood had been spilled before.

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