MasukLuca's POV.I hated interrogations, not because they were difficult but because they were always the same.A stubborn fool tied to a chair, bleeding and pretending to be brave while I slowly lost my patience.The room smelled like sweat and blood. The old warehouse we used for situations like this was cold and dimly lit, a single light bulb hanging from the ceiling and swinging slightly above the man tied to the chair.The man looked half dead already. My men had done a good job. His face was swollen and bruised. Blood ran from his nose and mouth, dripping slowly onto the concrete floor.Perfect.If there was one thing I was good at in this world, it was breaking people.I leaned back slightly against the metal table behind me and watched him carefully.It wouldn’t take long, not with this one.One of my men stood beside him, gripping the back of the chair while the other leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. Both of them waited silently for my next order.The only sound in t
Adriana’s POVThe ballroom was bright with golden lights and soft music, but none of it made me feel comfortable.I stood near one of the tall windows, holding a glass of water I hadn’t even touched. Around me, people laughed and talked as if the world was perfect. Women in beautiful dresses walked around confidently, their heels clicking softly on the marble floor. Men in expensive suits stood in small groups, discussing business and politics like they owned the world.This charity event was one of the most important gatherings of the year for the mafia families and I hated every second of it.My eyes slowly moved across the room again. Still no sign of Vincent, I sighed quietly.I didn’t even know why I had expected him to come. After everything that happened earlier at the mansion, it was foolish to think he would suddenly change his mind.Some stupid part of me still hoped. Maybe he would show up and stand beside me like he used to but the longer I stood there alone, the more tha
Adriana's POV.The car rolled slowly through the gates and stopped in front of the mansion. I stared at the mansion through the window, my stomach twisting. I had only been discharged from the hospital a few hours ago after fainting the night before. The doctors said it was stress.Stress.What a funny word for the mess my life had become.The driver stepped out and opened the door for me. I climbed out quietly, my body still weak. My head throbbed slightly.Vincent didn’t even come to see me. Not once then again I really didn't expect him to, I guess I just hoped so.Instead, he sent a driver.The only person who bothered to stay by my side was Luca. He barely spoke the whole night, but he sat in the chair beside my bed, making sure I was alright.I pushed the thought away as I walked toward the entrance of the house.The doors opened and I stepped into the living room. For a moment, everything was quiet. The silence felt almost peaceful.Almost but the peace didn’t last five minutes
Adriana's POV.The black dress clung to my body uncomfortably, as if it didn’t want to be there just as much as I didn’t. It was tight in the wrong places, especially around my stomach. Thankfully, my baby bump wasn’t obvious yet.I stood at the back of the cemetery, away from the main crowd, but it felt like all eyes were on me. Watching, whispering and judging.Maybe I shouldn’t have come. But I had to.I stared at the coffin. The priest’s words were a soft blur in the background. I couldn’t hear anything except the pounding of my heart.Then I saw her.Fred’s mother.She stood by the casket, stiff and broken. Her face was filled with pain, her black veil doing nothing to hide the fury burning in her eyes. Her gaze found mine and in that moment, I knew this was about to get ugly.She pushed past two people and stormed toward me."You have some nerve showing up here!" she shouted, her voice slicing through the quiet ceremony.Heads turned. The priest fell silent while people stared
Adriana's POV.I was seriously starting to regret asking Luca to bring me along. He had disappeared into a meeting, and I was stuck alone in his office, bored out of my mind. At least back at the mansion, I had Paige to keep me company.I spun slowly in Luca’s chair, letting out a sigh, when the door burst open and he walked in, looking a little tense."Can you wait here a little longer? I have official business to take care of," he said.I didn’t need to ask, his eyes said it all. Mafia business."Let’s go," I said, already standing up."No, Adriana. You’ll wait here," he said more firmly this time, like I was a kid being told to stay put.I stared at him, arms folded. “I’m coming.”He muttered something under his breath and gave in, probably realizing I wasn’t going to back down.The car ride was fast and rough. Luca drove like he was chasing someone, and my stomach didn’t take it well. When we finall
Luca's POV. Ever since I got back, I’ve done everything possible to avoid Adriana. If I saw her coming down the hallway, I’d turn and walk the other way. She told me to stay away from her and I meant to respect that but it wasn’t just that. As much as I hate to say it, she’s Vincent's wife and now, she’s carrying his child. I already crossed a line once, I won't do it again. But fate has a cruel sense of humor. No matter how hard I try, we keep running into each other and each time, she offers a soft “hello,” with that smile, the kind that knocks the air out of your lungs. I tell myself not to respond, to keep walking but every damn time, I nod back or say something stupid. Like a fool. With Vincent out of town on some business trip with our father, she’s more alone than ever. Not like his presence makes a difference, he treats her like shit, and she just takes it. I hear it and I see it but I choose to stay out of it, I've already caused enough damage. I was part of the reason







