Page 47 of Tormented Hearts

Phoenix hands him the phone, watching as he reads the text, his expression darkening with every word. His fists clench at his sides, and for a moment, Phoenix worries he might crush the phone in his hands.

"I’m going to kill her," Luca growls, his voice filled with a deadly promise.

Phoenix stands, crossing the room to place a gentle hand on his arm. "Luca, don’t," she whispers, her voice trembling. "You can’t let her get to you like this."

Luca turns to her, his eyes blazing with intensity. "She threatened you, Phoenix. She threatened our child. I’m not letting her get away with that."

Phoenix’s heart races, her own fear warring with the desire to keep Luca from doing something he would regret. She had never seen him like this—so angry, so protective. It scared her, but it also made her realize just how much she meant to him.

"Luca, please," she whispers, stepping closer to him. "I don’t want you to put yourself in danger because of her. We’ve come too far to let her destroy everything."

Luca’s expression softens slightly as he looks down at her, his heart aching at the fear in her eyes. He pulls her into his arms, holding her close as he presses a kiss to her forehead.

"I won’t let anything happen to you," Luca whispers, his voice raw with emotion. "I’ll protect you and our baby, no matter what."

Phoenix clings to him, her heart pounding with a mixture of fear and love. She knows Luca meant every word, but the idea of him confronting Bianca terrifies her. Bianca was dangerous, but Luca... Luca was capable of things Phoenix didn’t even want to imagine.

"I trust you," Phoenix whispers, her voice shaky. "But please, don’t let her push you to do something you can’t take back."

Luca tightens his grip on her, his heart torn between his need for vengeance and his love for Phoenix. He had to protect her, but Phoenix was right—he couldn’t let Bianca drag him down into the darkness. Not when they had so much to look forward to.

"I won’t let her come between us," Luca promises, his voice soft but filled with determination. "But I’m going to make sure she never gets close to you again."

Luca didn’t waste any time. He sent his men out to track down Bianca, making it clear that he wanted her found—and fast. His overprotective instincts had kicked into overdrive, and he was determined to end this once and for all. Bianca had gone too far, and now she had to face the consequences.

Hours later, as night fell over Palermo, Luca received the call he had been waiting for. His men had located Bianca at one of her few remaining hideouts—a small, seedy club on the outskirts of the city. Luca didn’t hesitate. He grabbed his jacket, preparing to leave, but as he turned to go, Phoenix stepped in front of him.

"Don’t do this," she says softly, her eyes filled with worry. "I know you want to protect us, but please... don’t let her drag you down to her level."

Luca’s jaw tightens, his heart aching as he looks at her. He knows she is right, but the rage simmering inside him is too strong. Bianca had threatened his family, and he couldn’t let that go unanswered.

"I have to do this, Phoenix," he states quietly, his voice filled with resolve. "I can’t let her keep coming after us."

Phoenix’s eyes fill with tears, but she nods, knowing that she can’t stop him. "Just... be careful."

Luca pulls her into his arms, pressing a fierce kiss to her lips. "I’ll be back soon," he promises. "And when I get back, this will be over."

The streets of Palermo were quieter than usual, the night air heavy with tension as Luca’s car speeds through the dimly lit roads. He sits in the back seat, his fists clenched at his sides, his jaw tight with barely controlled fury. His men are driving, their expressions hard, knowing that this night would end in bloodshed.

Luca has been waiting for this moment. He has given Bianca every chance to walk away, to leave his life for good, but she had refused. And now, she had gone too far. She had threatened Phoenix—threatened their child—and that was something Luca could never forgive.

As the car approaches the rundown club on the outskirts of the city, Luca’s heart pounds in his chest. He wasn’t sure how this confrontation would end, but one thing was certain: Bianca wasn’t walking away unscathed.

"She’s inside," one of his men says as they pull to a stop. "No guards. Just her."

Luca nods, his expression dark. "Stay outside. I’ll handle this."

His men hesitate for a moment, clearly worried about letting him go in alone, but they nod in understanding. Luca was a force of nature when it came to protecting those he loved, and tonight, he was going to make sure Bianca understood that.

Luca steps out of the car, his muscles tense as he walks toward the club’s entrance. The building is small, dingy, with peeling paint and flickering neon lights. It reeks of desperation—the perfect hideout for someone who had lost everything.

Pushing open the door, Luca steps inside, his eyes quickly adjusting to the dim light. The club is nearly empty, save for a few overturned chairs and empty bottles scattered across the floor. And there, standing by the bar, is Bianca.

She turns as the door clicks shut behind him, her eyes narrowing as she meets Luca’s gaze. Her expression is unreadable, a mixture of anger, desperation, and something darker. For a long moment, neither of them speak, the tension between them crackling like electricity.

"Coming to finish what you started?" Bianca calls, her voice laced with bitterness.

Luca’s eyes darken as he takes a step closer, his posture radiating barely controlled fury. "You threatened Phoenix. You threatened our child."

---