The next few weeks flew by in a whirlwind of fabrics, flowers, cake tastings, and excited chatter about the fast-approaching happiest day of my life.Joyce went into full wedding planner mode, and honestly, thank God for her. If she hadn’t taken over, I probably would’ve melted into a puddle of stress. She was everywhere—measuring tables, snapping at florists, demanding silk napkins instead of cotton. I just smiled and nodded and let her do what she did best.Vince, on the other hand, was calmer than I’d ever seen him. Maybe it was the taste of freedom. Maybe it was finally being off that dark path that once consumed his entire life. He wheeled around the lounge, watching me try on veils and shoes and fuss over lip shades, and he never stopped smiling at all of that.“You know,” I said one evening, twirling around in the fourth dress of the night, “you haven’t complained once about all this wedding chaos.”He tilted his head and gave me a sweet smile. “Why would I complain? I get to m
We hadn’t heard from Luca in days. Not a call, not a message, not even a whisper of his whereabout. And every hour that passed only made my chest tighten more. I tried not to panic, but my nerves were hanging by a thread. Every time the front gate creaked or a phone buzzed, I jumped, half-expecting his voice... Or the worst.I sat by the window, the lilac curtains half drawn, staring out at the empty driveway like I could will him to walk through it. My tea had gone cold hours ago, untouched in my hands. Joyce had arrived an hour ago to comfort me.She sat beside me, her presence warm as always. She didn’t say anything at first. Just sat there, her shoulder brushing mine. After a while, she spoke, her voice low like she didn't know if to speak.“Do you think life will ever be normal again? After all this?”I let out a tired breath, my fingers tightening around the mug I wasn't drinking from. “I don’t know,” I said honestly. “Sometimes I feel like I’ve forgotten what normal even feels
~~LUCA~~I was blindfolded, my legs and arms aching, when they finally dragged me out of the van. When the blindfold came off, I saw I was being taken into a mansion.The floors were expensive marble. The air reeked of perfume and polished wealth. I felt like a criminal being dragged before a king.I had a busted lip, sore ribs, and they’d stripped the crystal right out of my hands like taking candy from a kid.They shoved me to my knees. My head hung low. My hands were bound behind my back. The guards stood like statues all around, dressed in black and heavily armed. I could hear the faint ticking of a grandfather clock somewhere in the distance.Then came the sound of heels and boots.I lifted my head just in time to see them walk in like they owned the goddamn world—Bondago, in a silver suit that screamed power. Theresa, in blood-red silk that hugged every inch of her deceitful body. She looked proud, smug, like everything she’d planned was unraveling beautifully right in front of
~~LUCA~~I stood at the doorway, watching Jessica sip from her coffee mug, her eyes heavy with tiredness but still so beautiful in the morning light. The guilt gnawed at me. I’d been cold to her earlier, colder than I'd planned. But it wasn’t because I didn’t care about her—far from it. It was because I cared too damn much."Hey," I said, my voice softer than I intended. She looked up at me, surprise flickering in her eyes."Hi," she whispered back.I walked closer to her and sat right opposite. It took a moment before she met my gaze."I’m sorry for how I acted back there. I... I just have a lot on my mind. But I promise you, Jess, I’ll make everything okay."She raised a brow, clearly skeptical, and leaned forward as if to tell me a secret."What are you planning to do, Luca?"I paused for a second too long, thinking whether to let her know or not.Then, I decided not to."The less you know, the better. Trust me," I said.I knew she desperately wanted to know, but she didn’t press.
I sat beside Vince on the edge of the bed, my hands loosely folded in my lap, just watching him breathe. His chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm, the bruises on his face looking a little less angry in the soft glow of the afternoon sun.I reached out carefully to brush back a stray lock of his dark hair. His skin felt warmer now; he'd been cold all through last night. He stirred slightly under my touch, then his lashes fluttered open, revealing those deep blue eyes that made my heart flutter fast."Morning," he murmured with a smile, his voice still thick with sleep.A breath of relief escaped me. "It's past twelve, baby. You slept long.""I haven't slept this good in a while, cara," he said, stretching out slowly. I could tell his sides hurt by the way his jaw clenched. But he didn’t complain. He never did."I made you breakfast—now lunch," I said with a soft giggle, nodding toward the nightstand. A plate with toast, scrambled eggs, and a cup of coffee sat there, a little cold by
~~LUCA~~My eyes fluttered open to a smoky room. I inhaled sharply, and the metallic taste of blood filled my tongue.I looked down to see my ankles were bound. My hands, too, were tied behind my back.Again?Just how many times in a week was I going to get tied to a fucking chair?I exhaled, wondering who my abductor was now.The last thing I remembered was getting hit in the head with a gun.I'd taken down almost all the bad guys with a little help, but I guess I didn't finish the job well.There was no sound except for the slow drip of water and the scurry of rats around.Whoever this was, they didn't have a good hideout spot. That meant unprofessional—new in the game.The door creaked open, and heavy boots marched in. A sliver of light spilled in, framing the silhouette of a man with broad shoulders and red tattoos.Franco.One of Bondago's men.He was more muscle than common sense, so I began to wonder how he’d masterminded my abduction.“I told you we'd meet again like this, Luc