Page 21 of Tormented Hearts

She looks up at him, her eyes filled with tears, and for the first time, she realizes just how deeply Luca felt for her. This wasn’t just possession. This wasn’t just control. He cared for her in a way that scared him—scared both of them.

"I don’t want to lose you either," Phoenix whispers, her voice trembling. "But I don’t know how to stay."

Luca’s hand tightens around hers, his eyes filled with desperation. "Stay," he whispers, his voice low and rough. "Phoenix. Stay with me."

He pulls Phoenix into his arms leaning back he holds her close trying to assure both of them that what they have between them is enough.

***

The sun had barely risen over Palermo, casting the city in a muted, grey light, when the phone rings again. Luca had barely slept. He had spent the night sitting by the window, staring out at the skyline, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts. Phoenix had eventually fallen asleep in bed, though it had taken her hours to find any peace. Even now, her presence there felt fragile, like she could slip away at any moment.

The call pulled Luca from his thoughts, the sharp ring slicing through the silence. His instincts kicked in immediately—this early, it could only mean one thing: more trouble.

Luca reaches for the phone and answers, his voice cold and businesslike. "Tempo."

On the other end, Gabriel’s voice comes through, low and tense. "We’ve got a problem, boss. The Romero’s—they’re mobilizing."

Luca’s grip tightens on the phone. He had been expecting a response after what had happened to the men he’d executed, but he hadn’t expected them to move so quickly. The Romero’s were arrogant, but even they wouldn’t be foolish enough to strike again so soon. Unless, of course, they had nothing left to lose.

"Where?" Luca demands, already standing and moving toward the door, his body tense and ready for action.

"Near the docks," Gabriel replies. "They’re pulling all their forces in, looks like they’re preparing for something big. I’ve never seen them this organized before."

Luca’s jaw clenches. The docks were key to his operations—both for his nightclubs and the shipments he controlled through his weapons trafficking. The Romero’s must have realized that hitting him there would deal a major blow to his power.

"How many men?" Luca asks, his voice low and dangerous.

"At least two dozen. Could be more," Gabriel says. "It’s not just a skirmish, Luca. This is a full-scale retaliation."

Luca’s mind races. The Romero’s weren’t just coming for his territory—they were coming for him, for everything he’d built. And if they succeeded, Phoenix would be in more danger than ever. He couldn’t afford to let that happen.

"I’ll be there soon," Luca says, his tone leaving no room for argument.

As he ends the call, Luca’s mind is already formulating a plan. He would need every available man, every resource at his disposal, to crush the Romero’s before they could gain a footholdin his territory. This wasn’t just about revenge anymore—it was about survival. And Luca didn’t lose. Not in business, and certainly not in war.

PHOENIX 11

Phoenix stirs in the bed, her eyes fluttering open as the first light of dawn filters through the curtains. She could feel the emptiness next to her where Luca had been, the coldness of the sheets a reminder of the distance that still lingered between them. Even though they had shared the same space, the same night, there was a vast chasm between them.

She sits up slowly, her body still heavy with exhaustion from the events of the previous day. Her mind is a jumble of confusion, fear, and something she doesn’t want to admit: a desire to stay. But even as she tries to push the thought away, she couldn’t escape the weight of Luca’s world. The violence, the power, the darkness—it was all-consuming, and it terrified her.

As Phoenix wraps the blanket around her shoulders, she hears the distant murmur of Luca’s voice coming from the hallway. He was on the phone, and though she couldn’t make out his words, the tension in his tone was unmistakable. Something was happening—something dangerous.

She gets out of bed, her legs unsteady as she makes her way toward the door. Her heart pounding in her chest as she steps into the hallway, where she finds Luca already dressed, his expression hard as he barks orders into the phone.

"Luca?" she asks, her voice soft but filled with concern.

Luca ends the call and turns to face her, his dark blue eyes intense but not cold. He moves toward her, his hand brushing lightly against her arm in a gesture that is both protective and possessive.

"The Romero’s are moving against us," he says bluntly, not bothering to soften the blow. "They’re mobilizing at the docks. It’s an all-out attack."

Phoenix’s breath catches in her throat. She had known there would be retaliation, but hearing it now, so soon, made her stomach churn with fear. "What does that mean?"

"It means I need to go," Luca says, his voice firm. "They’re trying to take control of our operations. If they succeed, it’s not just my business they’ll be coming for—it’s everything. Including you."

Phoenix’s chest tightens. The fear she had felt the day before was back, stronger than ever. She didn’t want to be a part of this war, didn’t want to be dragged into the violence and chaos that defined Luca’s world. But she couldn’t ignore the truth either—if the Romero’s won, they wouldn’t stop at Luca. They would come for her.

"What if..." Phoenix hesitated, her voice trembling. "What if they take you?"

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