Page 24 of Tormented Hearts

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Luca’s car skidded to a halt in front of the penthouse, the tires screeching on the wet pavement as he slammed the door open and jumped out. His heart was pounding in his chest, each beat a thunderous reminder that time was slipping through his fingers. The streets around him were eerily quiet, but the tension in the air was palpable, thick with the weight of impending violence.

He sprinted toward the entrance, his thoughts consumed by a single name: Phoenix.

"Phoenix?" Luca calls, his voice sharp, his eyes scanning the room for any sign of her. But there was no answer.

Fear gripped him. His mind raced, heart hammering as he took a step further into the room. The panic clawing at his chest, constricting his breath. Every second that passed without seeing her, without knowing she was safe, felt like an eternity.

He moves deeper into the penthouse, his gun raised, ready for anything. The silence was deafening, his footsteps echoing on the hardwood floors.

"Phoenix!" Luca’s voice was more desperate now, the fear creeping into his tone, his mind racing, each horrible possibility flashing through his mind.

The penthouse is large, with many rooms, and Luca moves quickly, tearing through the space, his heart pounding louder with each passing second. The more he searches, the more frantic he becomes.

And then, from one of the bedrooms, he hears it—a faint sound.

Luca froze, his breath catching in his throat. He moves toward the door, his steps silent as he listens again. The sound is there quiet, but unmistakable.

Without hesitation, Luca kicks the door open.

The sight before his eyes nearly brings him to his knees. "Phoenix," is sitting on the couch with her EarPods, he breaths, his voice rough with a mixture of fear and relief. "Phoenix, look at me."

Her eyes flutter open, a smile lifting her lips, her body tensing and her expression changing when she sees his fear. She reached out, her fingers brushing against Luca’s hand.

"You’re, okay?" Luca whispers, his voice raw as he pulls her into his arms, holding her tightly against him.

Phoenix’s body vibrates with life in his embrace, she clings to him, her fingers gripping his shirt as if afraid to let go. Luca’s heart calms as he holds her, the weight of what just happened pressing down on him like a physical force.

Luca pulls back slightly, his hands cupping her face as he looks into her eyes. “It’s finished now," he says, her eyes close as she leans into his touch. She was exhausted, her body and mind pushed to the edge, but in that moment, she felt safe. She felt protected in a way she hadn’t since the nightmare began.

Luca presses a kiss to her forehead, his lips lingering there for a moment as he closes his eyes, his heart aching with the weight of what could have happened.

He couldn’t even bear to think about it.

Luca’s phone buzzed in his pocket, and he answers it without hesitation. "Miguel."

"I saw you arrive, the penthouse is secure," Miguel says, his voice tense.

Luca’s jaw tightens. "Good. Thank you."

There is a pause on the other end of the line, and then Miguel speaks again, his voice low. "Enzo’s dead, Luca. You took him out yourself. Gabriel just updated me."

Luca’s breath comes in short, sharp bursts as the rage continues to burn in his chest. "It’s not enough."

He ends the call and turns toward the wreckage around him that is still evident from when the Romero’s attacked. The Romero’s had made their move, and they had failed. But Luca wasn’t satisfied with just survival. He wanted destruction. He wanted to tear down everything Enzo had built, brick by brick, until there was nothing left of the Romero family.

And when it was over, when the dust finally settled, he would have what was his—his empire, his city, and most importantly, Phoenix.

PHOENIX 13

There was something different in the way Luca looked at her now—something softer, more protective. His hands gentle as they cup her face. His thumbs brush lightly over her cheeks.

"You’re safe," he whispers, his voice low and rough, but there was an edge of vulnerability in his tone. Phoenix looks up at him, her heart pounding in her chest, her body trembling with a mix of relief and passion. The fear that had gripped her during the time Luca was out is now gone.

As much as she had feared the darkness that surrounded Luca, as much as she had tried to distance herself from the violence of his world, there was no denying the sense of security that washed over her when he was near. He was dangerous, yes, but he was her protector, and in this moment, that was all that mattered.

"Luca..." Phoenix’s voice soft as she reaches for him, her fingers brushing against his shirt, clinging to him like he was the only solid thing in her world.

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