Chapter 58: Bring Her Here

Liam’s POV

I was sitting alone in my office, the light from the window spreading across the files on my office desk.

Everything was quiet. Just the quiet sound of the whatever it was that was humming, I don't what it is. I don't even care.

Right now, I was just thinking about one person.

Luca De Rossi.

His name was everywhere in my head. Like a shadow I couldn’t outrun. I had been following his trail for years, but it still felt like I was only scratching the surface.

Just as I was about to lean back and close my eyes for a bit, my phone buzzed.

It was Marcus.

I picked.

“Someone tried to kill Luca De Rossi,” he said.

I sat up. “What? What do you mean?”

“An attempt was made on him. Not long ago.”

I frowned. “What happened?”

“It’s not what happened. It’s who,” Marcus said. “The shooter… was Stephanie.”

I blinked. “Wait… what?”

“She told me herself. She was the one who shot at Luca. But she didn’t get him. His car’s bulletproof. Barely getting anyone.”

Of course it is. I sighed. “What was she thinking?”

“I called a friend at the station to confirm. The police have it on record. But Luca’s team? They’re brushing it off. Calling it nothing serious.”

I rubbed my face slowly. “They’re probably already looking for her.”

“Definitely. You know they won’t let this slide.”

“Where is she now?” I asked.

“I told her to disappear. Hide somewhere. I don’t know where.”

I sat up straighter. “What do you mean by that? You know that’s not enough. You think she can hide from them? From Luca’s people?”

“I can’t bring her to my house, Liam. My girlfriend is going to be asking too many questions. You know how she gets.”

I didn’t answer.

“Besides,” Marcus added, “Stephanie should’ve thought of all this before she decided to shoot one of the most dangerous men in the city.”

I looked away from the board in front of me. “She’s just a kid, Marcus.”

“She’s nineteen.”

“That’s still a kid. A scared, angry one.”

“Well, what do you want me to do then?”

There was a pause before I spoke. “Find her. Bring her to my place.”

“What?” Marcus sounded like he wasn’t sure he heard me right.

“I said bring her to my place. I’ll keep her there.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes.”

“You’re really going to hide her… in your house?”

“If that’s what it takes.”

There was a long silence.

“Alright,” he said. “If that’s what you want. I’ll try to find her.”

We ended the call, and the moment I set the phone down, I felt the weight of what I just said.

This might be the dumbest move I’ve ever made.

I sat there for a moment, staring at the papers in front of me, trying to steady my thoughts. Trying to tell myself it was the right thing.

But the truth?

I didn’t know.

What if she leads them to me?

What if Luca finds out I’m someone who’s been digging into his business, his life?

What if this girl, this angry, broken girl, walks straight into my house with all of them right behind her?

I picked up the phone again and called Marcus back.

It rang once.

Then twice.

Then he picked. “Yeah?”

“Wait,” I said quickly. “Just… be careful. If you’re bringing her here, make sure she wasn’t followed.”

“I will.”

“I mean it. Don’t let anyone see you with her. Don’t lead them to me.”

“I said I’ll be careful.”

“She’s not safe out there, Marcus. But if Luca finds her, or finds out she’s with me…”

“I know.”

There was a pause, then he added, “I just hope you know what you’re doing.”

“I don’t,” I said honestly. “But maybe she can help us. Maybe she knows something she hasn’t told you yet.”

“You think she’s holding back?”

“I don’t know. But maybe being here will make her talk. Make her open up.”

“Alright,” Marcus said, his voice low now. “I’ll call you when I find her.”

“Okay.”

We hung up again.

I leaned back in my chair and I stared at the wall in front of me.

I could literally see Luca De Rossi's face in front of me.

And now… Stephanie was a part of this story too.

This could go wrong. All of it.

But I wasn’t going to let her face this alone.

Even if it cost me.