Chapter 50: Stephanie

Liam's POV 

The streets were quiet when I pulled up to my place. Maybe too quiet. I leaned on the steering wheel for a second, still thinking of Maria, Luca, and everything in between.

I hated how tangled this was getting. And worse, how helpless I felt in all of it.

I grabbed my phone and called Marcus.

“You coming?” I asked as soon as he picked.

“On my way,” he said. “With the girl.”

I sighed. “Let’s hope she has something useful.”

I wasn’t expecting much. Over the years, many people claimed to have dirt on Luca. And every single time, it was either half-baked, old news, or completely useless. 

But still, we had to listen. One right tip… one solid lead… that could be all we need.

I started getting things ready. Moved a few files off the table, got out a bottle of water, just in case the girl needed something to drink. Sat in silence after that.

Waiting.

About thirty minutes later, there was a knock.

I opened the door to Marcus standing beside a girl who didn’t look a day over fourteen. But I reminded myself, looks deceive. Especially in this world.

“Liam,” Marcus nodded. “This is Stephanie.”

Stephanie gave a small smile, nervous, arms folded over her chest like she was trying to hold herself together. I stepped aside and let them in.

We didn’t waste time. No small talk. I wanted to get straight to it. Whatever this girl had to say, it better be good.

“Please sit,” I said, motioning to the couch.

We all did.

Marcus glanced at her. “Go ahead. Just say it the way you told me.”

Stephanie nodded. Her voice was soft. Barely a whisper at first. “I was recruited by someone for sex work… for the man named Luca De Rossi. And his girlfriend… Alexa.”

My fingers rubbed together. I didn’t say anything yet.

“They said it was just going to be one time,” she continued. “Just something different. They needed a girl who was young… fresh. Someone who looked very innocent.”

“How old are you now?” I asked.

“Nineteen.”

I narrowed my eyes. “How old were you then?”

“Eighteen,” she said quickly.

I cursed under my breath. “Of course. Eighteen.”

Legally an adult. No red flags on paper. Nothing that would stick. And Luca? He was too careful for that. He wouldn’t risk underage charges. Not directly.

“How much were you paid?” I asked.

“Ten thousand dollars,” she replied.

I blinked. Not a bad payday. Not bad enough to call the cops a year later either.

I leaned back. “So far, this isn’t anything we can use.”

“I told her that too,” Marcus said, then turned to her again. “But go on. Tell him the rest.”

Stephanie shifted. Her hands were now clenched in her lap.

“They drugged me,” she said, her voice shaking a little. “Not enough to knock me out. Just enough to make me dizzy, confused. I couldn’t remember most of what happened… but I woke up with bruises on my arms and legs. My wrists hurt like I was tied up. My thighs were sore. My whole body felt… used.”

I clenched my jaw. Still not enough. But close. Very close.

“And you think they assaulted you?”

She nodded. “I’m sure. Because it wasn’t just once. They called me back two more times.”

I ran a hand down my face. Still no real proof. Just bruises and blurry memories.

But then she said, “I wasn’t the only one.”

I looked at her sharply. “What do you mean?”

“There were others. Girls like me. Young. Pretty. Mostly not from around here.”

“Not from around here?”

“Some from other states. Some from other countries. They’d come in groups sometimes, stay in a hotel. Be gone after a few days.”

My heart slowed.

Marcus leaned forward. “You know what that sounds like?”

I turned to him slowly. “What?”

“Human trafficking,” he said flatly.

I froze for a second, then shook my head. “No.”

“Liam...”

“No,” I repeated. “Luca De Rossi does a lot of crap, I know that. Arms, drugs, shady deals. But this?” I looked at Stephanie again. “Girls being moved across borders, used and tossed? That’s not his kind of dirt. Besides, this doesn't really sound like human trafficking."

Marcus didn’t speak, but the way he looked at me said he wasn’t so sure.

I kept pacing. “Luca De Rossi is many things… but he’s not some barbarian man smuggling girls in and out of hotel rooms. He likes control. Power. Not chaos.”

“Maybe it’s not chaos to him,” Marcus said. “Maybe it’s all organized. Maybe that’s how he stays clean, let others do the dirty work.”

I stared at him. “You think Luca De Rossi is running a human trafficking ring?”

“I think we don’t know enough to say what he is or isn’t.”

I didn’t answer. The idea sat heavy in my chest, but I didn’t want to believe it. Couldn’t.

I looked at Stephanie again. She looked like she could break any second.

I softened my voice. “You sure you want to keep going with this?”

She nodded slowly. “Someone has to.”

I didn’t respond. My mind was spinning too fast.

No proof. No names. No faces.

Just bruises, blurred memories, and guesses.

Still… It could be something but it's not enough to move.

But maybe enough to dig.

Maybe just enough to start.

Just the beginning.