Page 46 of Tormented Hearts

One evening, as they lay in bed together, Luca turns to her, his hand resting on her stomach. "Do you think it’s a boy or a girl?" he asks softly, his voice filled with a rare sense of wonder.

Phoenix smiles, her heart swelling with love. "I don’t know," she whispers, her fingers lacing with his. "But I can’t wait to find out."

Luca leans down, pressing a gentle kiss to her stomach, and for the first time in a long while, Phoenix feels a sense of peace wash over her. They didn’t have all the answers, and there were still so many unknowns ahead of them, but they were facing it together. And that was all that mattered.

"I love you," Luca states, his voice thick with emotion.

Phoenix smiles, her eyes filled with love. "I love you too."

The news of Phoenix’s pregnancy had brought a sense of peace and hope to Luca and Phoenix, but in the back of Luca’s mind, he knew their happiness would draw attention. He had made many enemies in his life, and now that he had something even more precious to protect, the weight of his world felt heavier than ever.

And then there was Bianca.

Luca had cut her out of his life, destroyed her influence, and made it clear that there was no place for her in his future. But Bianca wasn’t the type to accept defeat gracefully. Luca knew she would come back. He just didn’t know when or how.

Phoenix, on the other hand, had been trying to focus on the positives. She and Luca had begun talking about their future, about raising a child together, and for the first time in a long time, she felt like they were building something solid. She was determined not to let her fears consume her, but deep down, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something—or someone—was still watching, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Luca tightened security around Phoenix considerably. His men were stationed outside the penthouse at all hours, and Phoenix wasn’t allowed to leave without an escort. At first, she had bristled at the restrictions, but she knew it was Luca’s way of keeping her safe. She also knew he was right—there was always a threat lurking just out of sight.

But even with all the precautions in place, the feeling of unease only grew stronger.

One afternoon, while Luca was out handling business, Phoenix was in the kitchen preparing lunch when her phone buzzed on the counter. She wiped her hands on a towel and glanced at the screen, her stomach dropping when she saw the name:Bianca.

Phoenix’s heart raced as she opened the message, her hands trembling slightly as she read the words.

You think a baby will keep him tied to you forever? You’re even more naïve than I thought. Luca belongs to me. I’ll make sure you and your little fantasy family disappear before you can even blink.

Phoenix’s breath caught in her throat, her hand flying to her stomach as if to shield her unborn child from the venom in Bianca’s words. She had known Bianca wasn’t done, but this was different. This was a direct threat—not just to her, but to her baby.

Her pulse pounds in her ears as fear wraps its icy fingers around her. She knew she needed to tell Luca, but the idea of worrying him, of making him even more protective than he already was, made her hesitate. He had been so calm lately, so focused on building their future, and Phoenix didn’t want to disrupt that.

But this... This was serious.

She immediately dialled Luca’s number, her heart pounding as she waited for him to answer.

Luca had just finished a meeting with one of his lieutenants when his phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulls it out, his brow furrowing when he sees Phoenix’s name flash across the screen. It wasn’t like her to call during the day unless something was wrong.

"Phoenix?" Luca answers, his voice immediately filled with concern. "What’s going on?"

Phoenix’s voice is shaky on the other end of the line. "Luca... Bianca texted me."

Luca’s blood ran cold at the mention of Bianca’s name, his entire body tensing. "What did she say?" he asks, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.

Phoenix takes a deep breath, her voice trembling as she reads the message aloud. When she finished, the silence on the other end of the line is deafening. She can feel Luca’s rage through the phone, could imagine the way his dark blue eyes would be narrowing, his jaw clenched in fury.

"I’m coming home," Luca replies, his voice tight with barely controlled anger. "Stay inside. Don’t open the door for anyone but me."

"Luca," Phoenix calls, her heart racing, "I’m fine. It’s just a message—"

"No," Luca growls, cutting her off. "This isn’t just a message. She threatened you. She threatened our child. She won’t get another chance."

Phoenix swallows hard, her fingers tightening around the phone. She had never heard Luca sound like this before—so cold, so deadly. She knew he was capable of immense violence when it came to protecting what was his, but hearing it directed toward Bianca felt different. This wasn’t just business. This was personal.

"I’ll be there in ten minutes," Luca says before ending the call.

Luca was back at the penthouse within minutes, storming through the door with a look of pure fury etched across his face. Phoenix was sitting on the couch, her phone still clutched in herhand, when she sees the tension in Luca’s body, her heart skips a beat.

"Let me see the message," Luca demands, his voice low and dangerous.

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