Chapter 104

Chapter 104

The tension between them can longer be denied.

It felt inevitable.

And that terrified Luca.

Because he had spent his entire life preparing for loss.

Not love.

Love was dangerous.

Love gave people the power to destroy you.

And Damon already had that power.

He just didn't know it yet.

The thought haunted Luca long after they left the porch.

Long after everyone went to bed.

Long after the safehouse became silent.

Because every step closer to Damon felt like stepping toward a cliff.

And Luca was beginning to wonder if he'd jump willingly.

The next morning brought terrible news.

Which was normal.

Unfortunately.

A lead.

One of Vale's hidden transfer routes had been identified.

A possible location connected to Division Three.

Not enough information for a full operation.

Enough for reconnaissance.

Which immediately started an argument.

"We split into teams."

"No."

Seraphine looked toward Damon.

"You haven't even heard the plan."

"I don't need to."

"That's concerning."

"It's efficient."

"No, it's concerning."

Around the table, everyone watched the exchange.

Including Luca.

Who already suspected where this was going.

And unfortunately

He was right.

"We need two reconnaissance teams."

"No."

"Damon."

"No."

"Why?"

Damon pointed at Luca.

Immediately.

Without hesitation.

Without thinking.

The room fell silent.

Cassian slowly sat up straighter.

Like a shark sensing blood in the water.

Oh no.

"Oh yes," Cassian whispered.

Damon ignored him.

"Because splitting up is stupid."

Seraphine folded her arms.

"That's not the reason."

"It is."

"No."

"It is."

"No."

Everyone knew it wasn't.

Especially Luca.

Because Damon wasn't looking at the map.

He wasn't looking at the mission details.

He was looking at him.

And suddenly Luca couldn't breathe properly.

The room felt too warm.

Dangerously warm.

Nova leaned back in her chair.

Entirely too amused.

"He's worried."

"I'm practical."

"He's worried."

"I'm practical."

"Very worried."

Damon glared.

Nova looked delighted.

Traitor.

Absolute traitor.

Seraphine rubbed her temples.

"Can we continue?"

"No," Cassian said immediately.

Nobody was surprised.

Mira looked toward Damon.

Then toward Luca.

Then quietly asked:

"Why doesn't Damon want Luca to go alone?"

The room exploded.

Again.

Luca contemplated leaving the country.

Immediately.

Without luggage.

By lunchtime, the mission plan was finalized.

And Damon lost.

Technically.

Luca would go with Nova.

Damon would remain at the safehouse coordinating communications.

A simple assignment.

Routine.

Safe.

Yet Damon hated every second of it.

Luca noticed.

Of course he did.

Which made everything worse.

The departure vehicle waited outside.

Engines running.

Mission gear loaded.

The operation would only take a few hours.

A short reconnaissance run.

Nothing serious.

Nothing dangerous.

At least in theory.

Damon stood beside the SUV.

Watching Luca perform final equipment checks.

Checking weapons.

Communications.

Supplies.

Professional.

Focused.

Beautiful.

Damn it.

Luca looked up suddenly.

Their eyes met.

And something shifted.

The noise around them faded.

The others disappeared.

For one brief moment

It felt like they were alone.

"You'll be fine."

The words surprised Luca.

Because Damon sounded like he was trying to convince himself.

Not him.

Luca's chest tightened.

A dangerous warmth spreading through him.

"Probably."

"That's not reassuring."

"It wasn't supposed to be."

A tiny smile appeared.

Small.

Soft.

For Damon alone.

The realization hit both of them.

Neither looked away.

Neither moved.

The distance suddenly felt impossibly small.

Then Nova appeared.

Naturally.

Always.

"Ready?"

No.

Neither of them was ready.

Not for this.

Not for whatever this had become.

Yet Luca nodded anyway.

Because missions didn't wait for feelings.

Life certainly didn't.

He moved toward the vehicle.

Then stopped.

Halfway there.

Turned around.

And looked back.

At Damon.

Who was still standing exactly where he'd left him.

Watching.

Always watching.

Luca didn't know why he did it.

Maybe because he wanted to.

Maybe because he needed to.

Maybe because some selfish part of him wanted proof.

That Damon would stay.

So quietly

Too quietly for anyone else to hear

Luca said:

"Wait for me."

The words barely existed.

A whisper.

A request.

A promise.

Damon froze.

Because it wasn't about the mission.

They both knew that.

It was about something bigger.

Something dangerous.

Something growing between them.

And after a long moment

Damon answered.

Without hesitation.

Without fear.

Without realizing how much the words would mean.

"Always."

Luca's heart nearly stopped.

Then he got into the vehicle before Damon could see it happen.

The SUV pulled away moments later.

Disappearing down the vineyard road.

Taking Luca with it.

Leaving Damon standing there.

Watching until the vehicle vanished completely.

Cassian appeared beside him seconds later.

Like a curse.

Like an infestation.

Like a particularly annoying guardian angel.

"You have it bad."

Damon didn't deny it.

He couldn't.

Miles away

Inside the moving SUV

Luca rested his head against the window.

Trying unsuccessfully to stop smiling.

Because Damon had said always.

And for a few reckless seconds

Luca allowed himself to believe it.