Page 50 of Tormented Hearts

Phoenix glances up at him, smiling. “About what?”

“About you,” he says with a grin. “And the baby.”

Phoenix raises an eyebrow, her heart fluttering at the mention of their baby. “Oh? What about us?”

Luca takes her hand in his, his thumb brushing gently over her knuckles. “I want to make sure you have everything you need here. I know the guards are in place, but I want this place to be perfect for you—for us.”

Phoenix’s heart swells with love as she looks at him. Even though Luca’s world was filled with danger and darkness, here, in this house, they had built something beautiful. Something real.

“It already feels perfect,” Phoenix states softly, leaning into him.

Luca smiles, his eyes filled with warmth. “It’s only going to get better.”

The next morning, Phoenix found Marco in the kitchen, finishing up his breakfast before starting his rounds. She approaches him carefully, unsure of how to bring up Miguel’s warning without making things awkward.

“Hey, Marco,” she greets, her voice tentative.

Marco looks up, flashing her his usual easy going smile. “Morning, Mrs. Tempo.”

Phoenix hesitates, biting her lip before speaking. “I just wanted to... I think we should keep things a little more professional going forward. Luca’s protective, and I don’t want to make things difficult for you.”

Marco’s smile falters slightly, and he nods, understanding immediately. “Of course. I get it.”

Phoenix offers him a small smile, feeling a pang of guilt for having to distance herself from someone who had been so kind. “Thank you.”

Marco smiles back, his tone light. “Hey, no worries. I’m here to do my job.”

As he leaves the kitchen, Phoenix feels a sense of relief. She had handled it, and now there was no risk of Luca misunderstanding the situation. But deep down, she knew the peace they had found here in the countryside was fragile. The dangers of Luca’s world were always lurking, just out of sight.

And as much as Phoenix wanted to believe they could stay safe here, she knew that nothing was ever truly certain.

The following days felt different for Phoenix. Ever since Miguel’s warning about Marco, she had been walking on eggshells. What had once been casual, friendly interactions now felt loaded with tension. It wasn’t that Marco had done anything wrong—he had always been respectful, never crossing any lines—but now, with Miguel’s words echoing in her mind, Phoenix couldn’t shake the sense that Luca’s possessiveness could turn everything upside down in an instant.

She had tried to talk to Marco, to set clearer boundaries, but despite his understanding response, the awkwardness remained. Every time Marco smiled at her or made a friendly comment, Phoenix found herself overanalysing his intentions, wondering if Luca would read too much into their interactions. She hated feeling this way—nervous in her own home, on edge around someone who had been nothing but kind to her.

But as the days passed, the tension only grew.

Phoenix was in the garden, tending to the small flower bed she had planted near the back porch. It was one of the things she loved about the country house—the space, the fresh air,the chance to focus on something simple and peaceful. She had spent the morning planning out where to plant herbs and flowers, trying to create a relaxing environment where she could spend time once the baby arrived.

As she knelt down, digging her hands into the soil, she heard footsteps approaching. Looking up, she saw Marco walking toward her, his usual easy smile in place. Phoenix felt a pang of anxiety in her chest, but she forced herself to smile back.

“Morning, Mrs. Tempo,” Marco greets, stopping a few feet away. “Looks like you’re building quite the garden here.”

Phoenix wipes her hands on her jeans, trying to keep the conversation light. “Yeah, I thought it would be nice to have some flowers around when the baby comes. Something peaceful.”

Marco nods, his gaze flicking to the growing baby bump Phoenix was starting to show. “That’s great. You’re going to be a wonderful mother.”

The compliment caught her off guard, and Phoenix felt her cheeks flush slightly. “Thank you,” she murmurs, not sure how to respond.

For a moment, they stand in silence, the awkwardness hanging between them like a heavy cloud. Marco shifts his weight from one foot to the other, clearly sensing the tension but not quite sure what to do about it.

“I wanted to apologize again if I made things weird the other day,” Marco says suddenly, his voice quieter. “I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

Phoenix blinks, her heart racing as she recalls Miguel’s warning. She hadn’t wanted Marco to feel guilty or awkward, but now she realizes the situation was more complicated than she’d thought.She didn’t want to push him away entirely, but she knew she had to keep a certain distance.

“You didn’t make me uncomfortable,” Phoenix assures quickly, trying to diffuse the situation. “It’s just... Luca is protective. He doesn’t mean to be, but you know how he is. I don’t want him to misunderstand anything.”

Marco’s face softens, and he nods. “Yeah, I get it. Luca’s a good guy, but I know how he can be about his family.”

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