Chapter 13

Chapter 13  

The silence inside the car felt heavier than the noise from the gala they had just left. Rain tapped softly against the windows as Milan’s night lights blurred into streaks of gold and silver. Damon sat in the back seat, his fingers loosely clasped together and his expression calm. Too calm. Across from him, Luca stared out the window, his jaw tight. Neither of them spoke since leaving the ballroom. The kiss still lingered like electricity in the air between them. But that wasn’t what made Luca uneasy. It was the message. Congratulations. Damon just walked into the trap. Luca had deleted it immediately. But the words burned in his mind. Finally, Damon broke the silence. “You’re angry.” Luca didn’t turn his head. “I’m calculating.” Damon exhaled softly. “That sounds worse.” “It is worse.” The car turned onto a quieter street leading toward Damon’s penthouse tower. “You shouldn’t have done that,” Luca said. Damon lifted an eyebrow. “Kissed you?” “Yes.” “Why?” “Because now every powerful person in that room knows exactly where to attack you.” Damon leaned back against the seat. “They already knew.” “That was speculation.” “And now?” “Now it’s confirmed.” Damon didn’t seem concerned. “I’m not ashamed of you.” The words hit Luca harder than expected. “That’s not the point.” “Then what is?” “The point,” Luca said sharply, finally turning to face him, “is that you just painted a target on both our backs.” Damon’s gaze didn’t waver. “You’re already a target.” “Yes.” “And so am I.” Damon’s voice softened slightly. “At least now we’re standing on the same side.” Luca stared at him. “You’re reckless.” Damon smirked faintly. “And yet you still haven’t left.” That silence answered everything. Across the city, Matteo DeLuca watched the video replay on his tablet. The footage showed Damon stepping down from the stage, walking across the ballroom, taking Luca’s hand, and kissing him. Matteo smiled slowly. Perfect. Exactly what he needed. Behind him, a man stood near the window of the private office. “You’re certain this helps us?” the man asked. Matteo set the tablet down. “Oh, absolutely.” The man frowned. “I don’t see how.” Matteo leaned back in his chair. “You’re thinking too small.” “How so?” Matteo steepled his fingers. “For weeks, Damon has been emotionally unstable.” “Yes.” “Grieving his mother. Fighting media pressure. Distrusting the board.” The man nodded. “And now?” Matteo’s smile widened slightly. “Now he’s publicly declared loyalty to a man the board already suspects.” The realization dawned slowly. “You’re going to use Luca against him.” “Exactly.” “But Damon trusts him.” Matteo’s eyes glittered. “Trust is the most fragile weapon in the world.” He tapped the tablet. “All we have to do…” His voice lowered. “…is break it.” Back at the penthouse, Damon walked straight to the bar. He poured himself a drink. Luca watched from the doorway. “You’re celebrating?” Luca asked. Damon shrugged. “Surviving another scandal deserves recognition.” “That wasn’t survival.” “What was it?” “Escalation.” Damon turned toward him. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.” “It is when you’re surrounded by enemies.” Damon took a sip of his drink. “Then maybe they should stop hiding.” Luca stepped closer. “You really believe Matteo is involved?” “I believe something is wrong.” “That’s not proof.” Damon’s voice dropped. “My mother died investigating something.” “Yes.” “And suddenly people start impersonating her.” Luca didn’t respond. “And now someone is sending threats about me.” Damon set the glass down. “You call that coincidence?” “No.” “Good.” Damon leaned forward slightly. “Because I don’t.” Silence stretched between them. Then Luca asked quietly, “What happens when you find out the truth?” Damon’s eyes darkened. “Then the people responsible will regret it.” Later that night, Luca couldn’t sleep. He stood on the balcony again, staring out over the city. His mind replayed the message. Damon just walked into the trap. Which meant the trap had already been set. And Luca had walked straight into it with him. His phone buzzed again. Another encrypted message. Luca opened it carefully. A file. Security footage. The timestamp made his blood freeze. It was from the night Evelyn Moreau died. Luca narrowed his eyes as the video played. The camera showed the underground parking garage of the Moretti estate. A black car pulled in. A man stepped out. The camera angle wasn’t clear enough to show his face. But Luca recognized the posture immediately. Confident. Relaxed. Familiar. Then the man turned slightly. Just enough for the light to catch his features. Luca’s stomach dropped. Matteo. The video ended. Another message appeared beneath it. “You wanted the truth.” Luca felt ice run through his veins. Because if this footage was real Then Matteo had lied to Damon. About everything. Footsteps behind him made Luca turn. Damon stepped onto the balcony. “You disappear out here a lot,” Damon said quietly. “Thinking.” “About leaving again?” Luca hesitated. Then shook his head. “No.” Damon leaned against the railing beside him. “Good.” The city lights reflected in Damon’s dark eyes. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily.” Luca almost smiled. But the video replayed in his mind. Matteo leaving the garage the night Evelyn died. And Luca realized something terrifying. If Matteo really killed Damon’s mother Then Damon’s biggest enemy wasn’t outside his circle. He was already standing inside it. The next morning, chaos exploded. Damon walked into the boardroom to find every executive already seated. The atmosphere felt tense. Hostile. Matteo stood near the window, looking calm as always. “Good morning,” Damon said coolly. No one responded. One of the board members cleared his throat. “Mr. Moreau… we need to discuss last night.” Damon sat down slowly. “I assumed we might.” Another board member leaned forward. “Your public display with your bodyguard has raised serious concerns.” Damon’s gaze hardened. “He’s not just my bodyguard.” “That’s exactly the problem.” Damon folded his hands calmly. “Explain.” The chairman spoke next. “There are questions about Luca Raines background.” Damon didn’t blink. “What kind of questions?” “Serious ones.” Matteo finally spoke. “Damon, perhaps we should investigate further.” Damon turned toward him slowly. “Investigate what?” Matteo sighed. “I didn’t want to bring this up.” “But?” “But someone sent the board a report this morning.” Damon’s stomach tightened. “What report?” Matteo slid a folder across the table. Damon opened it and felt the blood drain from his face. Inside were photographs. Grainy surveillance images. But clear enough. They showed Luca standing in a dim hallway, holding a gun, outside Damon’s penthouse. The timestamp read: Three days before Luca was hired as Damon’s bodyguard. The room fell silent. A board member spoke quietly. “Mr. Moreau… were you aware your partner might have been stalking you before you hired him?” Damon’s heart slammed in his chest. Slowly He looked toward Luca. Who had just entered the boardroom and was now standing in the doorway, watching everything. 

Damon held up the photograph. His voice was dangerously calm. “Luca.” The room went still. “Care to explain why you were outside my penthouse…” He placed the photo on the table. “…three days before I hired you?” Luca didn’t answer immediately. Because the truth would destroy everything Damon believed. And Matteo watched the entire scene unfold With a satisfied smile.