Page 155 of Their Reckless Thief
His face twisted into something darker, and I saw a glint of regret, perhaps, but it was gone as quickly as it had appeared. “You know as well as I do, Luca, that trust is a currency too costly to spend on men like Vincenzo. You’ve let your emotions cloud your judgment. That bitch has blinded you to what truly matters.”
“No. She has reminded me what matters,” I shot back, and for once, I didn’t try to hide the rawness in my voice. “I love her. And if I have to choose between protecting her and following your rules, I’ll choose her. Every godsdamned time.”
A heavy silence fell over the room, a slow, simmering tension building as he watched me. I’d crossed a line, but there was no going back, no erasing the weight of my words or the truth I’d laid bare.
The Shadow stood slowly, his movements precise and measured, his gaze dark with something I couldn’t quite read. “Luca, you’re too valuable for me to simply discard. But betrayal, even when driven by misguided loyalty, cannot go unpunished. You’ve broken my trust.” He paused, and there was a glimmer of sadness in his eyes. “You’ve forced my hand.”
My pulse raced as his power surged, the room darkening around us. Shadows crept from the corners, pooling at his feet, swirling with a life of their own. I felt their chill, a creeping, insidious energy that bound me to the floor. His powers were similar to mine, but I couldn’t compare to him. He was godlike. Pain lanced through my body as his magic took hold, a suffocating grip that left me gasping for breath.
“It pains me to do this,” he said quietly, a touch of regret in his voice. “You have been like a younger brother to me. A protégé of sorts. But you’ve made your choice. Let this serve as a reminder of what happens when loyalty falters. You know where my priorities lie. I can make no compromises when it comes to my people.”
The shadows coiled tighter, and I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to remain still, to face him without fear. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of watching me break.
“Torturing her does nothing to further your agenda. If you won’t hear me out, then so be it. But you know this isn’t over. Vincenzo will come, and when he does, no amount of illusion will hide you from his wrath.”
The Shadow’s face twisted into an unreadable expression I’d never encountered before. “Perhaps. But until then, you’ll serve your penance. And you’ll remember where your loyalties lie.”
With a merciless twist of his power, he released me, and I crumpled to the floor, my vision swimming as pain throbbed through every inch of my body.
The reprieve was short-lived.
The darkness coiled around me, blotting out any sliver of light. The Shadow watched with that cold, calculated calm I’d grown to despise. Shadows unfurled from his fingertips, curling like serpents, each one promising pain in a way that was as personal as it was cruel.
I forced myself to look him in the eye, refusing to let fear take hold. My heart thundered, but I held myself steady, meeting his gaze with defiance. “Do what you need to do,” I rasped, the bitterness of defeat stinging as much as the impending punishment. “I won’t regret my choices.”
The Shadow’s eyes glinted, almost amused, proud as he extended his hand. The darkness snapped out like an extension of his will, solidifying and curling around me. The pressure mounted in my chest, stealing the air from my lungs. The walls began to close in on me, his shadows growing darker, sharper. They pulsed, waiting, coiled like vipers ready to strike.
Then, without a word, he unleashed them.
A sharp, searing pain tore across my back, the impact reverberating through me, leaving a dull, relentless ache in its wake. I gritted my teeth, refusing to make a sound, refusing to give him that satisfaction. My vision swam, and I forced myself to stay still, my body taut and ready to absorb the next blow.
Each strike sent a fresh wave of pain through me, and I knew he was watching, calculating the limits of my endurance. Every lash sliced deeper as though it were reaching into something beyond the physical, trying to break down the walls I’d spent years building.
“Tell me, Luca. Was she worth it? Thisattachmentof yours?”
A bitter taste rose in my mouth, but I forced myself to remain silent. I wouldn’t give him the answer he wanted, wouldn’t let him twist this into a weakness.
“She may have been worth it to you, but don’t forget, the price of your devotion isn’t only yours to pay. Celeste will pay for it as well, every time you falter.”
Anger surged through me, drowning out the pain. Rebellion surged through me even as I fought to keep my breathing steady. This was his twisted way of keeping her within his grasp. Keeping me within his grasp. I could endure whatever he dealt,but the thought of Celeste under his thumb, subjected to his cruel games, struck a deeper wound than any of his shadows could.
We had to get that fucking mirror.
The next strike left me reeling, but I raised my head, locking eyes with him. “You may have control over my life, my actions,” I gasped out, blood rushing in my ears, my back throbbing with each shallow breath. “You’ll never have my complete loyalty—not truly. That belongs to someone else.”
Anger and annoyance flashed over his face in quick succession. My refusal to bend to his will was pissing him off even more. The shadows held, tense, before he let them drop, the room silent save for my ragged breaths.
“Remember, Luca,” he said, his voice low and edged with an ominous calm. “This is a reminder of what happens to those who betray me. Your loyalty isn’t a choice; it’s a mandate. Defy me again, and you’ll wish I’d taken more than just your pride.”
He turned, leaving me to collect myself. As I watched him go, I made a silent vow. Whatever it took, I would find a way to protect her from him.
48
LUCA
Blood soaked through my shirt,and the relentless, throbbing pain only increased as I struggled to keep my balance. My knees threatened to buckle with every breath I took. The Shadow had made his point clear: loyalty wasn’t a choice, but an unrelenting chain I couldn’t sever without consequence. Celeste’s curse would remain, his mark clinging to her, binding her to his will. Just like he’d bound me.
I cursed, and dizziness washed over me. Each breath was like inhaling broken glass. I pressed my hand to the wall, willing myself upright, using every last shred of strength to hold on.
