Page 15 of Tormented Hearts

The sun was dipping below the horizon, casting the city in a wash of bruised colours as Luca stood by the window of the penthouse, his gaze fixed on the skyline. His heart was heavy with worry, a sensation he despised, but there was no denying the anxiety that gnawed at him. He glanced over his shoulder at Phoenix.

The news of the attack at the club has shaken him. The Romero’s had always been reckless, but this—targeting Gabriel, ambushing them so brazenly—it was a declaration. And Luca knew that if he didn’t respond with swift, brutal force, it would only be the beginning.

But leaving Phoenix was the last thing he wanted to do. The thought of her alone, vulnerable, made his blood run cold. He couldn’t let anything happen to her.

Taking a deep breath, Luca pulls his phone from his pocket and dials Miguel’s number. His second-in-command picks up on the first ring, his voice immediately alert.

“Boss?”

“Miguel,” Luca said, his voice tight with tension. “I need you to stay with Phoenix tonight. I’m heading to the club to meet Gabriel and assess the situation.”

There was a brief pause on the other end, and Luca could almost see the way Miguel’s eyes narrowed, the gears turning in his head. “You sure you want to leave her?”

Luca’s jaw clenched. “I don’t have a choice. The Romero’s crossed a line. If I don’t respond, they’ll see it as a sign of weakness.”

“And Gabriel?” Miguel’s voice was softer now, concern threading through his words. “He, okay?”

“He’ll be fine,” Luca replies, though he wasn’t sure if he was saying it to convince Miguel or himself. Gabriel had taken a bullet for him, had thrown himself into the line of fire without a second thought. It was a miracle he was still alive. But Gabriel was tough. He’d pull through. He had to.

“Watch her,” Luca continued, his voice lowering as he glances back at Phoenix. “Don’t let her out of your sight. No one gets near her.”

Miguel’s tone turns serious, all trace of his usual humour gone. “You got it, boss. I’ll keep her safe.”

Luca ends the call, his heart heavy with the weight of the decision. He crosses the room to where Phoenix sat, her eyes flicking up to meet his as he approaches. She looks fragile, her eyes wide and uncertain, it twists something deep inside him.

“I have to go,” he says softly, kneeling in front of her. “I need to check on Gabriel and deal with the Romero’s.”

Phoenix’s lips parted, her brows furrowing with worry. “Luca, I—”

He cut her off, his hands gently cupping her face. “Miguel will be here. He’ll protect you while I’m gone. You’re safe,bella. I promise.”

Her eyes search his, fear and something else—something vulnerable—flickering in their depths. “Just... come back. Please.”

Luca’s heart clenches, his resolve hardening. “I will.”

He presses a soft kiss to her forehead, lingering for just a moment longer before standing and turning away, his heart heavy as he walks out the door.

The drive to the club is tense, the city’s lights blurring past as Luca’s thoughts churned. The Romero’s had been a thorn in his side for years, but this attack was different. It wasn’t just a power play; it was personal. They had gone after Gabriel, knowing full well what it would mean to him.

As his car pulls up to the front of the club, the scene that greets him makes his blood boil. The once pristine entrance wasin shambles, glass shattered across the pavement, bloodstains smeared on the ground. His men were scattered around, some still assessing the damage, others guarding the perimeter with grim, watchful eyes.

Luca steppes out of the car, his face set in a mask of cold fury as he strides toward the entrance. The scent of blood and smoke heavy in the air, a testament to the chaos that had erupted here just hours before.

Inside, the club was a wreck. Tables overturned, chairs splintered, bullet holes peppering the walls. It looked like a war zone. And in the centre of it all, leaning against the bar with a bandage wrapped around his shoulder, was Gabriel.

Luca’s heart clenches at the sight of him, but he pushes the emotion aside, his expression hardening as he approaches. Gabriel looks up, his face pale but composed, a faint smirk tugging at his lips as he meets Luca’s gaze.

“Took you long enough,” Gabriel says, his voice rough but steady. “You should see the other guy.”

Luca’s lips twitch in a brief, humourless smile. “You look like shit.”

“Feel like it too,” Gabriel admits, his eyes darkening as he glances around at the wreckage. “The Romero’s hit us hard. We lost some good men.”

Rage burns through Luca’s veins, hot and consuming. He had known there would be casualties, but hearing it confirmed, seeing the destruction firsthand, made it all the more real. The Romero’s had attacked his family, had tried to take everything from him, and now... now it was war.

“They’ll pay for this,” Luca says, his voice low and deadly. “Every last one of them.”

Gabriel nods, his jaw tight with pain and anger. “What’s the plan?”

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