Page 42 of Tormented Hearts

Phoenix clings to him, her body trembling with the weight of everything they had been through. For the first time in days, she allows herself to believe that they could make it through this—that they could have a future together without the shadow of Bianca hanging over them.

Luca presses a soft kiss to her forehead, his hand gently stroking her hair as he holds her. “We’re going to be okay,” he murmurs. “I promise.”

And for the first time in a long while, Phoenix believes him.

The heavy weight of tension that had lingered between Luca and Phoenix for weeks seems to lift the moment Bianca was out of the picture. It wasn’t immediate—there was still a residue of hurt and doubt that lingered between them—but for the first time in what felt like forever, they had a chance to truly be alone, without the constant threat of someone trying to tear them apart.

The next few days were quiet. Luca made sure to keep his meetings brief, his focus entirely on Phoenix. He had promised her that Bianca was gone, and he had kept his word, but now came the real challenge: healing the emotional wounds left behind. Phoenix had been shaken by everything that had happened, and Luca could see it in her eyes, in the way she hesitated when she looked at him.

Tonight, Luca was determined to fix that.

Luca had arranged for a private dinner at the penthouse, wanting to give Phoenix a peaceful evening after everything they had been through. The table was set with candles flickering softly, and the city lights twinkled through the large windows that overlooked Palermo. The atmosphere was intimate, warm—a stark contrast to the turmoil they had faced.

Phoenix is sitting across from Luca, her fingers lightly tracing the rim of her glass. She is quieter than usual, her eyes distant, and Luca can see the weight of everything still pressing down on her. He hates that Bianca had done this to her, that his past had made Phoenix question their future. But he is determined to set things right.

"How are you feeling?" Luca askes softly, his voice cutting through the quiet.

Phoenix looks up, her green eyes meeting his, and for a moment, she hesitates. She didn’t want to burden him with her fears, didn’t want to seem weak. But this was Luca. If she couldn’t be honest with him, who could she be honest with?

"I’m trying," she admits, "I’m trying to believe that it’s really over."

Luca’s chest tightens, his heart aching at the vulnerability in her words. He has always admired her strength—how she has managed to survive in his dangerous world despite the odds stacked against her—but he knows this has shaken her in ways she hadn’t expected.

"It is over," Luca confirms, his voice firm but filled with tenderness. "Bianca is gone, and she’s not coming back. I made sure of that."

Phoenix nods, but there is still a flicker of doubt in her eyes. "I know. It’s just... I’ve never had to fight for someone like this before. And I guess I’m scared."

Luca reaches across the table, taking her hand in his. His touch is warm, grounding, and Phoenix feels a wave of comfort wash over her. "You don’t have to fight anymore," he assures gently. "I’m yours. Completely. And nothing—no one—is going to come between us again."

Phoenix’s heart swells at his words, but there is something else she needs to say, something that has been gnawing at her for weeks. She takes a deep breath, her fingers tightening slightly around his.

"Luca," she starts, her voice unsure. "I need you to know that... I’ve been scared that I’m not enough for you. That this life you live—it’s too much for me."

Luca’s eyes soften, and he squeezes her hand, pulling her closer so that she is sitting beside him. He cups her cheek, his thumb brushing away the tear that has slipped down her face.

"Don’t say that" he pleads, his voice thick with emotion. "You’re everything to me, Phoenix. You’re more than enough."

Phoenix’s chest tightens with the weight of his words, she leans into his touch, her heart racing. "I just don’t know how to handle it sometimes," she admits. "The danger, the violence... it scares me. But I can’t imagine my life without you."

Luca’s heart aches at the raw honesty in her voice, he pulls her into his arms, holding her close. "I know it’s not easy," he assures quietly, his lips brushing against her hair. "But I’ll do everything I can to protect you from it. I don’t want you to be afraid. Not because of me."

Phoenix closes her eyes, letting herself melt into his embrace. She can feel the strength in his arms, the way he holds her as if she’s the most precious thing in the world. And in that moment, she realizes that no matter how hard things got, no matter how much danger surrounded them, being with Luca was worth it.

"I love you," she whispers, her voice soft but filled with conviction. "I don’t care how hard it gets. I love you."

Luca’s breath hitches at her words, he pulls back slightly, looking into her eyes. "I love you too," he confesses, his voice rough with emotion. "More than anything."

Over the next few days, Luca and Phoenix slowly begin to rebuild what had been damaged. Luca makes a conscious effort to keep Phoenix more involved in his world, not hiding things from her like he once had. He knows that part of the fear she had felt stemmed from not knowing what was happening, from feeling like an outsider in his life.

One evening, as they sit on the balcony overlooking the city, Phoenix turns to him, her expression thoughtful.

"I want to work," she says. "I don’t want to be a kept woman, Luca."

Luca frowns, his protective instincts flaring up. "Phoenix, I don’t want you to get hurt. I keep certain things in place for a reason."

"I know," Phoenix assures, placing a hand on his arm. "But I don’t want to sit at home doing nothing. If I’m going to be with you—really be with you—I need to be able to live a life as normal as possible."

Luca sighs, running a hand through his dark hair he considers her words. He hates the thought of exposing her to more of the darkness that surrounds his life, but he also knows that she is right. She couldn’t be kept in a bubble for the rest of her life, no matter how much he wanted it. They couldn’t move forward unless he trusted her to stand beside him, not just as someone he needed to protect, but as his partner.

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