Page 35 of Tormented Hearts

Luca arrives with Miguel and several of his most trusted men, each of them armed and ready for anything. The air is thick with tension as they exit the cars, their eyes scanning the area for any sign of an ambush. Luca’s heart is pounding in his chest, but his expression remains cold and unreadable. He can’t show any sign of weakness—not here, not now.

Miguel falls into step beside him, his face grim. “We’ve got eyes on the perimeter,” he updates quietly. “No sign of trouble... yet.”

Luca nods, his jaw tightening. “Keep it that way.”

As they approach the entrance to the warehouse, Luca can see several of Santino Romero’s men standing guard outside. Their eyes narrowed as Luca and his men draw closer, but they step aside, allowing them to pass without issue. It was a show of respect—or perhaps fear. Either way, it didn’t matter. Luca was here to settle things once and for all.

Inside the warehouse, the atmosphere was just as tense. The space was large and empty, the only sound the echo of their footsteps against the concrete floor. At the far end of the room, a long table had been set up, and Santino Romero sat at the head of it, flanked by two of his remaining lieutenants.

Luca’s eyes locked onto Santino’s the moment he entered the room. The man looked older than the last time they had met—his face gaunt, his eyes hollow, but there was still a dangerous glint in his gaze. He wasn’t defeated yet, and that made him all the more dangerous.

“Luca,” Santino greets, his voice raspy. “Thank you for agreeing to meet.”

Luca doesn’t respond immediately. He takes a moment to assess the room, his eyes sweeping over every detail before finally stepping forward. “I didn’t come here for pleasantries,” he says coldly. “What do you want?”

Santino’s lips curl into a thin smile. “Straight to the point, I see. Very well.”

He gestures to the empty chairs across from him. Luca’s men took their positions, standing behind him as he and Miguel sit down. The tension in the room is suffocating, both sides watching the other closely, waiting for any sign of betrayal.

“We’re here because you’re losing,” Luca said bluntly, his voice cold. “Your empire is crumbling, and you know it. You asked for this meeting because you’re desperate.”

Santino’s eyes flash with anger, but he doesn’t deny it. “I won’t lie to you, Tempo,” he responds, his voice filled with bitterness. “You’ve backed us into a corner. But that doesn’t mean I’m finished.”

Luca raises an eyebrow. “Then why the truce? Why not fight to the end if you think you still have a chance?”

Santino leans back in his chair, his eyes narrowing. “Because I’m not stupid. I know when the odds aren’t in my favour. But I also know that wars like these don’t end cleanly. There’s always a price to be paid, and I’m offering you a way to avoid that.”

Luca’s expression remains hard. He doesn’t trust Santino—not for a second. But he was willing to hear him out.

“What are you proposing?” Luca asks, his voice flat.

Santino leans forward, his gaze sharp. “I’m offering you a ceasefire. We’ll pull out of Palermo, shut down our operations here, and leave you in control. In exchange, you let us keep our remaining assets outside of Sicily. We walk away with what’s left of our business, and you don’t have to worry about us coming after you again.”

Miguel snorted from beside Luca. “You expect us to believe that?”

Santino’s gaze flickers to Miguel for a brief moment before returning to Luca. “You don’t have to believe me. But you should believe in self-preservation. I’ve lost enough men already. I’m not interested in dying for a lost cause.”

Luca studies Santino closely, his mind working through the possibilities. A ceasefire would mean an end to the bloodshed, at least for now. But it also meant letting the Romero’s walk away with their lives. And Luca wasn’t sure he was ready to do that.

“What’s stopping me from killing you right here, right now?” Luca asks coldly, his hand resting on the gun at his side.

Santino’s smile fades, but he doesn’t flinch. “Because you’re not a fool, Tempo. You know that if you kill me, there will be others. Men loyal to my family, men who won’t stop until they’ve avenged me. But if you let us walk away, you’ll have complete control of Palermo. No more war. No more bloodshed.”

Luca’s jaw clenches, his mind racing. He didn’t trust Santino, but there was a logic to his words. Killing him now would only invite more chaos, more enemies. But letting him live—letting him walk away with a sliver of power—could buy Luca the peace he needed to protect Phoenix, to build a future without constant threats.

He glances at Miguel, who is watching him closely, waiting for his decision.

Luca takes a deep breath, his eyes narrowing as he turns back to Santino. “Fine,” he agrees quietly. “You walk away. But if I ever see your face in Palermo again, if I hear so much as a whisper of your name, I’ll end you myself. No negotiations. No second chances.”

Santino nods slowly, relief washing over his features. “Agreed.”

Luca stands, his men following suit as they prepare to leave. But before he turns to go, he looks at Santino one last time, his voice low and filled with warning. “Don’t test me.”

Santino doesn’t respond, but the message was clear. The Romero’s had been defeated, and Luca was the one holding the reins now.

As they left the warehouse, Luca’s mind was already on Phoenix. He had made a deal tonight, one that would protect her, but it didn’t feel like a victory. It felt like a reprieve—temporary and fragile.

The war wasn’t over. Not yet.

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