Maria's POV
I wasn’t sure if I should bring it up. Luca had just been attacked, and even though he sounded okay over the phone, something in me still felt uneasy.
We hadn't spoken about the business since the attack.
But now I was sitting across from him in his study, and the words were sitting heavy in my throat.
He looked fine and okay, like nothing had happened. He was wearing a white shirt that was rolled up at the sleeves, his watch catching the light as he scrolled through something on his phone.
“You’ve been busy,” I said softly.
He looked up at me, then set the phone down. “Yeah. I’m sorry about that.”
I waited a while before I finally spoke.
“I wasn’t going to bring up the bar thing yet. Not today, at least. I didn’t want it to seem like I didn’t care about what happened.”
His expression softened. “Maria,” he said, leaning back slightly. “Don’t do that. Don’t hold back because of me. I already told you I’m fine.”
I nodded, slowly. “Okay.”
He tilted his head. “You’re still thinking about it though, aren’t you?”
“The bar?” I asked, already knowing he could see right through me.
“Yes,” he said, almost smiling. “Well then, talk to me. Tell me.”
I hesitated just for a second before sitting up straighter. “Well… I’ve been thinking of starting with something small. Maybe not a full-on club. Just a nice, cozy bar. A place with music, but not too loud. Somewhere people can sit and have real conversations. Good cocktails. Clean look. Maybe dim lighting, dark wood furniture, gold accents. Something that feels rich but not stiff.”
He nodded once. “What kind of crowd are you aiming for?”
“Mid-level professionals. People who’ve grown past noisy clubs but still want to unwind after work. People who like comfort. Maybe some tourists, too.”
“You’ve thought about location?”
“I’ve checked a few places,” I replied. “Somewhere around the Eastside. I want it to be somewhere with decent traffic, but not crowded. Somewhere people won’t struggle to park or feel unsafe late at night.”
He raised his brow slightly. “You’ve done your homework.”
I smiled a little. “I’ve been doing a lot of reading. You know… Watching bar walkthroughs. Learning what works and what doesn’t.”
“What about staff?”
“I’d need a good mix. Bartenders who know what they’re doing. Maybe two at first. A manager, a cleaner. Security. I’m not planning something huge, so I want a tight team. People I can trust.”
He rubbed his jaw thoughtfully. “How much are you budgeting to start?”
“Somewhere around a hundred to two hundred and fifty thousand. I’ve done some rough estimates. Rent will take likely take a chunk, then renovations, equipment, licenses, salaries for the first few months…”
“Any plans for profit?”
“Not in the first few months. I know how long it takes to break even, especially in this city. I just want to create something solid first. Build a name. Word-of-mouth will help.”
He was quiet for a moment. Then he looked at me with something different in his eyes. Respect, maybe.
“Honestly Maria, I didn’t expect you to come this prepared,” he said. Then after a while again, he asked, “you know you'll need help with how to clean money with the bar or have you thought of something?”
“I've not really given much thought to that, I'm sorry.” I said looking down.
“It's okay, Maria.” He replied. “I'm sure Alex can help you with that. Besides, you don't have to do that when you're just starting but I have to say, Maria, I’m really proud of how well you've thought about this.”
“I didn’t want to waste your time,” I said simply. “I know I’m not in the best position to do this, but if I don’t try to build something of my own now, I might never get the chance.”
There was a short silence, and for a second I wondered if I had said too much. If maybe I’d pushed too far.
But then Luca reached for his phone and tapped a number. “Alex,” he said when the call connected. “I need you to help Maria with everything she needs for her bar. She’ll fill you in.”
My heart dropped just a little.
Alex?
Luca looked back at me and smiled faintly. “Alex would be of great help to you with logistics. He’ll help you get things moving faster.”
I smiled too, because that was what I was supposed to do. “Thank you,” I said.
But inside, I felt a small sting. I didn’t know why I expected him to want to do it with me. Maybe I just thought it was our conversation, our idea. Handing me off to someone else, even someone as capable and trusted as Alex, made me feel… pushed aside.
Not enough to complain. Just enough to feel it.
“I’ll give him everything,” I said. “Thanks again.”
“Maria,” he said, his voice softer now. “You’re doing well. I’m proud of you.”
I smiled but deep within me, that wasn't how I was feeling. Something about Luca pushing me off to Alex still stings.
Actually, I shouldn't expect the all-powerful Luca De Rossi to start opening a bar with me and a part felt I should be grateful Luca is even handing me to Alex, his very own right hand man.
But nevertheless, it still feels somehow. Perhaps it's the way Luca had said it, or perhaps it's just because I expected too much of him.
Well whatever it is, I'm going to be doing this whole bar business thing with more of Alex's help than Luca's.
Maria's POV I wasn’t sure if I should bring it up. Luca had just been attacked, and even though he sounded okay over the phone, something in me still felt uneasy. We hadn't spoken about the business since the attack.But now I was sitting across from him in his study, and the words were sitting heavy in my throat.He looked fine and okay, like nothing had happened. He was wearing a white shirt that was rolled up at the sleeves, his watch catching the light as he scrolled through something on his phone.“You’ve been busy,” I said softly.He looked up at me, then set the phone down. “Yeah. I’m sorry about that.”I waited a while before I finally spoke.“I wasn’t going to bring up the bar thing yet. Not today, at least. I didn’t want it to seem like I didn’t care about what happened.”His expression softened. “Maria,” he said, leaning back slightly. “Don’t do that. Don’t hold back because of me. I already told you I’m fine.”I nodded, slowly. “Okay.”He tilted his head. “You’re still t
Liam's POV Marcus had that look in his face again. The one that said, you’re doing something stupid but I won’t stop you.He was standing at the entrance of my apartment, leaning against the doorframe, his arms folded like he didn’t want to be here in the first place.Stephanie was beside him, quiet and tense. Like someone waiting to be thrown into a prison cell, not offered a place to rest.“I know you want to help her,” Marcus said quietly, his eyes scanning my face. “but this.. this is a bad idea.” Lowers his voice more.I nodded, but I didn’t move. “It’s fine.”“She could snap again. You don’t know what she’s capable of this time.”“She’s already broken,” I replied. “I don’t think she has anything left in her to snap with.”Stephanie didn’t speak. Her eyes moved around the room like she was trying to make sure there were no traps or something.She stood with her arms hugging herself, shoulders hunched. She was wearing s black hoodie that swallowed her body, the sleeves falling pa
Luca’s POV I hadn’t driven in a while. Not like I’ve forgotten how to, but there was always someone to do it for me. But today, I needed to clear my head, and driving helped. So I took the wheel, with Alex sitting beside me today.The city passed by us in slow motion. Cars honking, people moving like they didn’t know the kind of mess that was sitting heavy in my chest.No one had seen her. Not since the day before she tried to kill me.Stephanie.Even her name felt heavier now. I gripped the steering wheel tighter.“She’s gone quiet,” Alex finally said, looking out the window. “No police reports. No sightings. Her neighbours said the last time they saw her was the day before the attack.”I said nothing.What was I supposed to say anyway?She tried to kill me. That part played in my head again and again. The flash of gun in her hand. The sound of bullets hitting my car. The silence that followed after we drove off.“She’s hiding,” Alex added. “But someone like her...she can’t stay hid
Maria's POV I woke up to an empty bed.The space beside me was cold. Luca had already left.I rolled over slowly, letting the soft sheets wrap around my bare skin. My body still ached a little from last night. From him. From everything.I sat up, brushing my hair back with my fingers. The sun had filled the room already, almost like it didn't want any single part of the room to be dark.I stood up and grabbed a robe, and made my way out to the living room.Louisa was dusting the edge of a shelf, moving in that quiet, careful way she always did. She looked up when she saw me.“Good morning,” she said politely.“Morning,” I replied. “Luca’s gone?”She nodded. “Yes ma'am. He left with Alex earlier.”I glanced toward the door, like I might catch up with him somehow. But I didn’t ask where he went. I already knew I wouldn’t get an answer to that.“Any word about… the shooter?” I asked carefully.Louisa shook her head. “I don’t know anything about it.”“Did Luca or Alex say anything before
Liam’s POVI 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 wa
Maria's POV I laid still beside him, watching his chest rise and fall. Luca was asleep now but I couldn't get a thought out of my headLuca had released inside me. Again.I ran my hand lightly over my stomach. I don’t even know how many times it’s happened now. And nothing. No changes. No missed periods. No scares.Or maybe I can’t get pregnant. Or maybe Luca is the one who can’t.A part of me thought maybe that was a good thing.Because how do we even bring a child into this kind of life? Into this kind of danger? It might feel peaceful now. No one’s chasing us. No one’s threatening us. But Luca has enemies. He lives in a world where peace is only what you see on the outside. On the inside, everything is chaos. A lot of enemies who are likely waiting for a good chance to get to him.A child would change things. A child would be a target. And what if something happened to Luca? What if something happened to me?I closed my eyes, breathing out slowly.And then… the girl Stephanie cam