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The Cost of Freedom (Sienna)
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2025-03-09 06:10:00
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Falling for the Enemy    A Line Crossed (Luca)
I had made my decision.There was no turning back now.Siennaâs wide, terrified eyes were locked onto mine, searching for somethingâsome hesitation, some doubtâbut there was none.I had never been more certain of anything in my life.Matteo Russo had taken enough from me.I wasnât going to let him take her.Not while I was still breathing.I tightened my grip on my phone, my mind already running through the names of the men I could callâthe ones who owed me favors, the ones who werenât afraid to get their hands dirty.Siennaâs fingers wrapped around my wrist, her touch desperate. âLuca, pleaseââI tore my gaze away from hers, my jaw tight. âThis isnât up for discussion.âHer grip tightened. âYou think killing Matteo is going to solve this? That itâs just going to end?âI exhaled sharply, barely keeping my temper in check. âYes, Sienna. I do.âShe let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. âAnd then what? You think the rest of his empire is just going to let it go? You think his men won
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-09Falling for the Enemy    The Fallout (Sienna)
The moment my phone rang, I knew something was wrong.It wasnât just lateâit was the dead of night. The kind of hour where bad news didnât just knock; it kicked the door down.I snatched my phone off the nightstand, barely registering Cassieâs name on the screen before I answered.âSienna.â Her voice was raw. Weak.My stomach dropped. âCassie? What happened?âA shaky breath. âIââ She hesitated. âIâm okay.âBullshit.âWhere are you?â I demanded.There was muffled movement on the other end. A low voice. Male.Luca.I sucked in a breath. âAre you with him?âA pause.Then, Cassie murmured, âHe saved me.âI shot out of bed, grabbing my hoodie. âIâm coming.ââSienna, noââBut I had already hung up.âThe second I pushed open the door to Ethanâs apartment, I knew I had walked into something I wasnât ready for.Blood.The metallic tang of it lingered in the air, clinging to Lucaâs shirt, staining the floor in small, dried smears.Cassie was curled up on the couch, a blanket draped over her sh
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-09Falling for the Enemy    No Turning Back (Luca)
Killing Matteo wasnât a choice anymore.It was a necessity.I had tried to outrun this life. To carve out something different.But the second he took Cassie, he made his choice.Now, I was making mine.âEthan and I sat in the dimly lit apartment, the only sound the steady ticking of the clock on the wall. Cassie had finally fallen asleep in Siennaâs arms, exhaustion pulling her under. But Sienna wasnât sleeping.She sat curled up on the couch, her gaze fixed on the wall, her hands gripping Cassie like she was afraid to let go.She hadnât looked at me since I told her my plan.Ethan was the first to break the silence.âWe need a strategy.âI leaned back in my chair, rolling my bruised knuckles against the table. âI already have one.âHe scoffed. âNo, you have a suicide mission.âI met his gaze. âThatâs the only way this ends.âSienna stiffened from across the room.Ethan exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. âChrist, Luca. Do you even hear yourself?ââI hear myself just fi
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-09Falling for the Enemy    More Lines (Sienna)
I left.Not because I wanted to.But because if I stayed, I would watch Luca turn into something he swore he wouldnât.And I couldnât do that.Not when I loved him.Not when every part of me wanted to grab him and shake him and beg him not to go down this path.But I knew Luca.I knew that once he set his mind on something, there was no stopping him.So I did the only thing I could.I walked away.âCassie was still asleep when I packed a bag.I moved quickly, throwing clothes into my duffel, ignoring the burn in my chest, the tremble in my hands.I had to go.I didnât know whereâjust away.I reached for my phone to call a ride when the door creaked open behind me.Cassieâs voice was groggy. âWhere are you going?âI swallowed hard, keeping my back to her. âI need some space.âSilence.Then, âIs this about Luca?âI zipped my bag and turned to face her. âItâs about all of it.âShe studied me, her blue eyes sharp despite her exhaustion. âYou love him.âA lump formed in my throat.I didnâ
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-09Falling for the Enemy    Soul Break (Luca)
I should have stopped her.I should have grabbed her hand, pulled her back, begged her to stay.But I let her go.Because Sienna deserved better than this war.And I wasnât sure I did.Ethan and I drove in silence. The city lights blurred past the windows, a neon haze against the dark sky. My hands tightened on the wheel, my pulse a steady drum in my ears.Every mile we covered, I felt the weight of what I was about to do pressing heavier on my chest.There was no turning back.This wasnât just about Matteo anymore.It was about ending the cycle.It was about proving that I wasnât just some pawn in his twisted game.It was about making sure he never had control over me again.Ethan shifted in the passenger seat, watching me. âYou really think this is gonna work?ââIt has to.âHe scoffed. âThatâs not an answer.âI clenched my jaw, eyes fixed on the road. âThen maybe you shouldâve stayed out of it.âSilence.Then, finally, he sighed. âYou know thatâs not how this works, man.âI knew.Be
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-09Falling for the Enemy    Into the Flames (Sienna)
The city lights blurred as I sped through the streets, my fingers tight around the steering wheel. My pulse pounded in my ears, my thoughts racing faster than the car.Luca was in danger.Cassieâs words from the call kept replaying in my head, each syllable tightening the noose of fear around my throat.âItâs bad, Sienna.âI pressed harder on the gas, ignoring the speed limit, ignoring the buzzing of my phone. Nothing mattered except getting to him.Because no matter how much anger and betrayal had passed between usâLuca was mine.And I wasnât going to let him die for a past he never chose.Not when I had a say in it.âCassie was already pacing by the time I pulled into the shadowed parking lot of a run-down diner, just a few blocks from the warehouse. She looked differentâshaken.The second I stepped out of the car, she rushed toward me.âI tried calling you again,â she said, breathless. âYou werenât picking up.âI didnât bother answering. âWhat do you know?âCassieâs eyes darted aro
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-09Falling for the Enemy    The Final Gambit (Luca)
The night smelled like rain, thick with the promise of a storm that hadnât broken yet. Lightning crackled in the distance, flickering over the abandoned Romano estate like nature itself was holding its breath.It felt like an omen.The old mansion had been Matteo Russoâs stronghold for decades. Now, it was a relic, a monument to a dying empire. Crumbling walls, shattered windows, the stench of decay clinging to its bones. Fitting. Because tonight, I wasnât just burying Matteoâs legacyâI was ending it.For good.I stood at the head of the long oak table in what used to be the estateâs war room. The men seated around it werenât friends. They werenât allies. They were the last of Matteoâs loyalists, the remnants of his rule, the ones who had been clinging to the power heâd left behind like vultures picking at a corpse.But the corpse was gone.And so was their time.âYou already know how this ends,â I said, my voice calm but firm. I let my gaze sweep over them, memorizing every twitch, e
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-10Falling for the Enemy    After it All (Sienna)
The first breath of freedom didnât feel the way I thought it would.I had spent so many months waiting for this momentâdreaming of the day when Matteoâs shadow would no longer loom over my life, when the debt that had ruled my every decision would finally be gone. But as I sat on the edge of Lucaâs bed, staring at the faint light of dawn creeping through the window, I feltâĶ hollow.Like I had been holding my breath for so long that I didnât know how to exhale.The mansion was quiet. Too quiet.I knew Luca hadnât come back yet, and even though he had wonâhad walked away from that meeting with control, with power, with everything that should have made me feel safeâI couldnât shake the feeling that something was still unfinished.Maybe it was the ghosts of everything that had happened.Or maybe it was just me.A soft knock on the door snapped me out of my thoughts.Cassie peeked her head in, her face carefully blank. Too blank.âHey,â she said, stepping inside. She was already dressed, h
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-10
āļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ
Falling for the Enemy    Extended Epilogue ( A New Legacy)
(Siennaâs POV)The house was alive with laughter, the scent of fresh flowers and warm food mingling in the air as the guests arrived one after another. It felt surrealâthis moment, this day. A day that marked the beginning of something far greater than Luca and me. It was the start of a new legacy, a new generation.I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the delicate lace on my white and gold dress. The fitted bodice hugged my waist, the flowy skirt cascading down to the floor in elegant waves. It was tradition to wear white for purity, for new beginnings, and today, everything felt pure.âAre you ready?â Lucaâs voice came from behind me, deep and soothing.I turned, and there he wasâmy husband, the father of my children, the love of my life. He looked breathtaking in his custom-fitted navy-blue suit, the gold cufflinks matching the accents on my dress. His dark hair was styled to perfection, but it was his eyesâthe way they softened when they met mineâthat made my heart race.âAs
Falling for the Enemy    Extended Epilogue (The Night Before Forever)
(Siennaâs POV)The house was finally quiet. It was a fragile silence, the kind that came after hours of soothing newborn cries, calming restless toddlers, and making sure everything was set for the next day. I stood at the doorway of the nursery, my fingers gripping the frame as I watched my daughters sleeping soundly in their cribs.Elena and Isabella.It still felt surreal, even though I had spent the past eight weeks holding them, feeding them, memorizing every little detail about their tiny features. The gentle rise and fall of their chests, the way Isabellaâs little fingers always curled around her sisterâs when they were placed beside each other, the way Elena would turn her head in search of my voice.A soft smile tugged at my lips.It wasnât just them that made my heart feel impossibly fullâit was everything. The house, now brimming with life. The sound of Matteo and Alessandroâs giggles echoing through the halls. The way Luca looked at me with a depth of love that made me wea
Falling for the Enemy    Extended Epilogue (Our Angels)
(Luca's POV) Sienna was asleep.After more than fifteen hours of labor, screaming, crying, and a near bone-breaking grip on my hand, she had finally drifted into a well-earned rest. Her body was utterly exhausted, her face soft in slumber, strands of hair still sticking to her forehead.But me? I couldnât sleep. Not even for a second.Because right in front of me, in the transparent bassinet beside Siennaâs hospital bed, lay our daughters.My daughters.I still couldnât wrap my head around it. It didnât feel real. How could it? One moment, it was just the two of usâjust me and Sienna, figuring out life, navigating chaos, and nowâĶ now there were four of us.My heart clenched.They were so tiny. So fragile.One of them let out a small, soft sigh in her sleep, her tiny fingers twitching before settling against the soft pink blanket wrapped around her. Her sister lay beside her, her lips pursed slightly, looking just as peaceful.Matteo had arrived with Alessandro a few hours ago, and af
Falling for the Enemy    Extended Epilogue ( We Meet Our two Beautiful Angel)
(Luca's POV) Time had never felt so slow and so fast at the same time.The past eight months had been a whirlwind. From setting up the nursery to attending doctorâs appointments, every single day had been a countdown to this moment. And nowânow it was here.Sienna was in labor.And I was losing my goddamn mind.I had rehearsed this moment a thousand times. I had planned, prepared, and memorized every step of the process. But all of that went out the window the second Sienna gripped my arm and gasped, âLucaâĶ my water just broke.âFor a solid five seconds, I stared at her like a complete idiot.Then chaos erupted.âOkayâokay! Weâre ready! We have the bag! We have theâwhereâs my phone?!â I patted down my pockets, my movements jerky and uncoordinated. My heart was pounding so loudly in my ears that I barely heard Sienna groan.âLuca,â she exhaled, gripping the kitchen counter as she breathed through a contraction. âStop panicking.ââIâm not panicking,â I lied, my hands shaking as I reach
Falling for the Enemy    Extended Epilogue (Preparing for Chaos)
(Sienna's POV) The news of our twin girls spread like wildfire. By the time Luca and I had finished calling everyone in our immediate circle, our families had already told their friends, and somehow, I suspected half the neighborhood knew too.Lucaâs mother had called againâtwiceâto ask if she could start planning the baby shower immediately. My own mother had sent me a list of name suggestions before I could even finish breakfast. Even Cassie had texted me with an absurd amount of baby girl outfits she wanted to buy.And through all of this, Luca looked like a man who had been hit by a freight train.âAre you okay?â I asked him as he slumped against the kitchen counter, staring at his phone.He let out a slow breath. âI just got a message from my uncle. He says congratulations, and that we should start looking into bulletproof windows for when the girls are teenagers.âI snorted. âHeâs not wrong.âLuca groaned, rubbing his face. âSienna, do you realize how much trouble Iâm in?âI ra
Falling for the Enemy    Extended Epilogue ( Double the Love)
(Lucaâs POV)I didnât know how long I sat there, staring at the ultrasound screen like a man whoâd just had his entire world flipped upside down. Twin girls.Two.Jesus Christ.I ran a hand through my hair, exhaling sharply as I tried to process the reality of it. One baby had already been enough to completely wreck me in the best possible way, but two? I was so f***ed.Sienna was watching me, her fingers squeezing mine, probably waiting for me to say something more profound than the string of curses Iâd already let loose. But my mind was short-circuiting.Twin daughters.âLuca,â she murmured, her voice softer now, like she was worried about me.I shook myself out of the trance, blinking at her before looking back at the screen, where two tiny, indistinct shapes flickered with life. My daughters.I swallowed hard, my chest tightening with something dangerously close to tears. âTheyâre so small,â I rasped.Dr. Caldwell chuckled. âThatâs because theyâre only about ten weeks along. But I
Falling for the Enemy    Extended Epilogue ( Two Heartbeats)
(Siennaâs POV)I sat on the edge of the bed, my fingers idly tracing the fabric of my nightgown. The past few months had been a whirlwindârecovery, adjusting back to normal life, and trying to find a sense of peace after everything weâd been through. Luca had been my rock, never leaving my side, always knowing exactly what I needed before I even said a word. And now, as the early morning light filtered through the curtains, I found myself staring down at the pregnancy test in my hands.Two lines.Two lines.I blinked. My breath hitched.No. This couldnât be right.I grabbed another test from the drawerâone of the fancy digital ones. My hands shook as I followed the instructions, waiting the agonizing minutes for the result.âPregnant. 3+ weeks.âA choked gasp left my lips. My heart pounded so hard I could hear it in my ears.Pregnant.I pressed a hand to my stomach, a thousand thoughts racing through my mind. We hadnât been trying, not exactly, but we also hadnât been preventing it. I
Falling for the Enemy    Extended Epilogue ( Coming Home)
Luca's POV I never thought the sight of home would make my chest ache the way it did today. As the car rolled up the driveway, the massive wrought-iron gates slowly opening, I tightened my grip on Siennaâs hand.âWeâre here, baby,â I murmured, pressing a kiss to her temple.Her head rested against the seat, exhaustion still etched into her delicate features, but when she lifted her gaze to meet mine, I saw something thereârelief. Hope. A softness that had been missing for too long.She smiled, small but real. âHome,â she whispered, as if testing the word on her tongue.It had been months of uncertainty, months of fighting battles that neither of us had been prepared for. The long nights in the hospital, the painful procedures, the endless waiting for answers that never seemed to come fast enough. But we had made it through.And now, we were finally back where we belonged.The front door swung open before the driver even fully stopped the car. My mother rushed out first, wiping her ha
Falling for the Enemy    Extended Epilogue ( Finally Home)
(Siennaâs POV)The hospital doors slid open, ushering in a crisp breeze that smelled like rain-soaked pavement. It was the scent of freedom, of normalcy, of the life we had fought so hard to return to. After what felt like an eternity inside these sterile white walls, we were finally walking out as a family again.Luca held Matteo in his arms, pressing a soft kiss to our sonâs temple. Matteo had always been a light sleeper, but today, exhaustion had won, and he rested against his fatherâs chest, his small fingers curled into the fabric of Lucaâs hoodie. Alessandro clutched my hand tightly, his grip firm as if he were afraid someone would try to pull us back inside. He had been so strong through all of this, stronger than any five-year-old should ever have to be.Outside, Dr. Caldwell and Dr. Moreau stood near the entrance, watching us go.âRemember,â Dr. Moreau said, adjusting the glasses perched on his nose, âhis immune system is still delicate. Keep him away from crowded places for
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