LOGINLuca had been waiting for this night.For three days Vittorio had been surprisingly patient. Ever since the brutal attack on their old apartment, the mafia boss had kept his distance. No summons to the Velvet Rope. No rough hands dragging Luca into private rooms. No demands for his body in the middle of the night. Vittorio had simply let him stay close to Nico in the penthouse, giving the brothers space to process everything that had happened. He had been… understanding. Almost kind.That kindness unsettled Luca more than any threat ever could.He kept catching himself wondering if he had been wrong about Vittorio all along. Maybe the man wasn’t just a cold predator who took what he wanted. Maybe there was something more underneath the control and the power. The thought made Luca’s stomach twist with confusion and a reluctant flicker of something dangerously close to trust.Tonight, though, Luca knew the grace period was over.He spent a long time in the bathroom, cleaning himself car
As soon as Alex’s footsteps faded down the hallway, Luca let out a shaky breath and reached for the phone Vittorio had given him. It was brand new, sleek and heavy in his palm, the kind of device that probably cost more than three months of their old rent. Vittorio had bought two — one for Luca and one for Nico — and Luca still remembered the way Nico’s eyes had lit up when Vittorio casually handed it over in the penthouse. The kid had stared at it like it was magic, voice cracking with excitement as he turned it over in his hands. “Luca, look — it’s got a real camera! Not that cracked one on your old brick!”One of those rare, pure moments of joy Luca had never been able to give his brother no matter how hard he tried. The memory made his chest ache.He powered the phone on, the screen glowing bright and clean. His thumb hovered for a second before he dialed Nico’s number. It rang only twice before the video call connected.Nico’s face filled the screen, hair still messy from the cou
The morning light felt too bright, too final.Luca stood in the penthouse foyer with his small duffel bag slung over one shoulder, the same battered bag he’d carried through countless moves and narrow escapes. It held almost nothing — a few changes of clothes, the family photos carefully wrapped, and the faint scent of their old apartment still clinging to the fabric. Nico stood a few feet away, trying so hard to look brave that it broke Luca’s heart.They talked yesterday. They hugged, laughed, made promises. But talking about leaving and actually walking out the door were two entirely different things.Nico’s lower lip trembled despite his best efforts. He kept swallowing, fists clenched at his sides, eyes fixed on the floor. “So… this is it, huh?”“Yeah,” Luca said softly. His voice sounded steadier than he felt. “This is it.”He stepped forward and pulled Nico into a tight hug. The kid’s arms came around him immediately, gripping harder than usual, face buried in Luca’s shoulder.
Luca woke to the smell of fresh coffee and something sweet baking. For a disoriented second he thought he was still dreaming — no creaking floorboards, no distant shouting from the neighbors, no cold draft sneaking through the cracked window of their old apartment. He sat up slowly, wincing at the pull of bruised ribs, and padded barefoot into the open living area.The penthouse was empty except for him and Nico. Vittorio had slipped out sometime before dawn, leaving behind a perfectly set dining table. Scrambled eggs with herbs, crispy bacon, fresh fruit arranged like a magazine spread, warm croissants, and a pitcher of orange juice. Real orange juice, not the powdered kind they sometimes stretched with water.Nico was already at the table, staring at the food like it might vanish if he blinked. His hair stuck up in every direction, and his eyes were wide with something between wonder and disbelief.“This is… for us?” Nico whispered.Luca forced a grin as he dropped into the chair ac
The drive across the city was silent except for the low hum of the luxury SUV’s engine. Luca sat in the back with Nico pressed against his side, the kid’s head eventually drooping onto his shoulder as exhaustion won out. Vittorio rode up front beside the driver, his broad frame somehow making even the spacious vehicle feel smaller. Luca kept stealing glances at the passing streets, half-expecting Tommy and his crew to appear out of every shadow. His body ached with every bump in the road, ribs screaming, face throbbing where fresh bruises were already blooming.When they finally pulled up to a sleek high-rise in a quieter, upscale part of the city, Luca wasn’t surprised. Of course Vittorio would have a place like this — polished glass, private garage, the kind of building that screamed money and power. What did surprise him was how cozy it felt once they stepped inside the penthouse apartment on the fifteenth floor. High ceilings, warm lighting, soft leather couches that actually look
Luca’s back pressed hard against the cracked wall, his arms spread wide like a shield. Nico’s small hands clutched the back of his shirt, trembling. Blood dripped from the cut above Luca’s eye, stinging as it mixed with sweat. The knife in Tommy’s hand glinted inches from his face. The other two sharks shifted nervously, eyes darting between their boss and the tall stranger who had just walked into their chaos like he owned the air itself.Tommy’s chest heaved. He could feel the power rolling off Vittorio Russo — cold, absolute, the kind of presence that made lesser men want to disappear. Pride, though, was a stubborn bastard. Tommy had built his reputation on never backing down in front of his crew. Not even when every instinct screamed that this man was bigger than all of them combined.“You think you can just walk in here and claim him?” Tommy snarled, voice rough with forced bravado. “This is our debt. Our business.”He lunged.His thick arm snaked around Luca’s throat, yanking hi







