CHAPTER 31

Lucas had never been more aware of how useless his leg felt.

Enzo carried him...again.

Lucas insisted he could try hopping or leaning on something, but Enzo ignored the suggestion entirely. One arm supported Lucas’s back while the other was hooked beneath his knees, steady and unshakable.

The hallway they walked through was enormous.

Tall ceilings.

Polished stone floors.

Sunlight spilling through wide windows that overlooked the ocean below.

Lucas felt small being carried through a place like this.

And painfully aware of how close he was to the man holding him.

Enzo smelled faintly of cologne and something sharper—like a rich expensivecigar. He wasn't sure how he knew the scent.

Lucas tried not to notice.

He failed.

“Where are we going?” Lucas asked quietly.

“Breakfast room,” Enzo replied.

Lucas swallowed.

“Jamie’s there?”

“Yes.”

Relief spread through Lucas’s chest.

They reached large double doors. Enzo pushed one open with his shoulder and stepped inside.

The breakfast room looked less like a room and more like something from a magazine spread.

A long polished table.

Tall windows overlooking the sea.

White curtains shifting softly in the breeze.

And Jamie.

Jamie was pacing near the windows.

The moment he saw Lucas—

“Lucas!”

He hurried over.

Enzo lowered Lucas carefully into one of the chairs at the table.

Jamie immediately crouched beside him.

“Are you okay? Does it hurt? I should have listened to you when you said we shouldn’t have gone through the cove—”

Lucas laughed weakly.

“Jamie.”

Jamie stopped talking.

Lucas shook his head gently.

“I’m okay.”

Jamie looked unconvinced.

Lucas glanced at Enzo, who had moved a few steps away but was still watching quietly.

“I fell,” Lucas said. “Not you.”

Jamie rubbed the back of his neck.

“Still I feel guilty.”

Lucas leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly.

“I actually wanted to talk to you about something.”

Jamie straightened.

Lucas lowered his voice.

“We should leave.”

Jamie blinked.

“What?”

Lucas gestured around the room.

“This place is… incredible. But we didn’t mean to trespass. They’ve already done more than enough for us.”

Jamie frowned.

Lucas continued quietly.

“I feel like we’re taking advantage of them.”

Jamie hesitated.

“Well… about that…”

Lucas narrowed his eyes.

“What?”

Jamie glanced briefly toward the door before leaning closer.

“We can’t leave yet.”

Lucas’s stomach sank.

“Why not?”

“Matteo wants to speak with us.”

Lucas stiffened slightly.

“The other one?”

Jamie nodded.

Lucas rubbed his temples.

“I don’t like this.”

Jamie raised an eyebrow.

“What do you mean?”

Lucas lowered his voice again.

“I don’t know how to explain it.”

He glanced toward Enzo.

The man was standing near the windows now, speaking quietly to a staff member who had just entered.

Even from across the room, Enzo looked intimidating.

Lucas leaned closer to Jamie.

“They’re… intense.”

Jamie snorted.

“They helped us. They helped you.”

“I know I know,” Lucas said quickly. “And I’m grateful. But don’t you feel like something is… off?”

Jamie studied him.

Lucas sighed.

“I can’t walk.”

He gestured helplessly at his ankle.

“I’m stuck here. I hate feeling stuck.”

Jamie’s expression softened.

“Hey.”

Lucas looked up.

Jamie grinned reassuringly.

“You’re overthinking.”

Lucas wasn’t convinced.

Before he could respond, a quiet group of staff entered the room.

They moved with practiced efficiency—placing plates, pastries, fruit, and coffee across the table without making much noise.

Lucas blinked.

He hadn’t even noticed them arrive.

Jamie immediately grabbed a croissant.

“Okay wow,” Jamie said. “This is amazing.”

Lucas smiled despite himself.

“Try not to embarrass us.”

Jamie took a huge bite.

“Too late.”

Lucas shook his head.

Across the room, a television mounted on the wall suddenly flickered to life.

Neither of them had touched a remote.

Jamie glanced at it casually.

“Probably just morning news.”

Lucas nodded distractedly while pouring himself water.

A news anchor appeared on screen.

“…and in entertainment news today, industry giants continue to dominate global streaming markets.”

Jamie paused mid-chew.

Lucas looked up.

Images appeared on the screen.

Logos.

Film clips.

Then a familiar name.

UNIFLIX

Lucas frowned.

“Isn’t that the biggest streaming company?”

Jamie nodded slowly.

“Yeah. Like… the biggest.”

The news anchor continued.

“…the company’s elusive owners, who rarely appear publicly, continue to expand their global influence.”

Lucas barely listened.

Because two photographs appeared on the screen.

He froze.

Jamie froze too.

On the television—

Two men.

Well dressed.

Serious expressions.

One with midnight-blue hair.

One with black hair and a cross necklace.

Lucas’s mouth fell open.

Jamie slowly lowered his croissant.

“…Lucas.”

“Yeah.”

“Tell me I’m hallucinating.”

Lucas stared at the screen.

The names appeared beneath the photos.

ENZO ROMANO

MATTEO DELUCA

Owners of Uniflix.

Jamie slowly turned his head.

Across the room—in another room through the door way

Enzo was standing near the window exactly as he had been seconds ago.

Alive.

Real.

Lucas whispered.

“…that’s him.”

Jamie whispered back.

“No way.”

Lucas looked at the television again.

Then back at Enzo.

Then back again.

“This… this can’t be real.”

Jamie sat back in his chair.

“Well.”

Lucas looked at him.

Jamie shrugged.

“I guess they’re legit.”

Before Lucas could respond—

The door opened.

Two men entered.

Matteo walked in first.

Enzo followed behind him.

Jamie straightened in his chair instantly.

Lucas felt his heart speed up for reasons he didn’t fully understand.

Matteo glanced between them briefly before pulling out a chair.

Enzo walked directly toward Lucas.

“How is your leg?”

Lucas immediately felt his face heat up.

“It’s… okay.”

Enzo nodded.

“You shouldn’t try walking yet.”

Lucas blinked.

Enzo gave him a look.

Jamie was watching the interaction with a barely hidden grin.

After Matteo told them he did a background check on them. Lucas rationalized this because of their reputation.

Matteo sat at the table across from them as he continued.

“We wanted to apologize,” he said calmly.

Lucas frowned.

“For what?”

Matteo gestured toward Lucas’s leg.

“You were injured on our property.”

Jamie opened his mouth immediately.

“That wasn’t your—”

Matteo raised a hand slightly.

“We would still like to make it up to you.”

Lucas suddenly felt uneasy again.

“What do you mean?”

Matteo leaned back in his chair.

“You’re visiting Italy for three months.”

Lucas nodded cautiously.

“Yes.”

Matteo’s expression remained calm.

“We’ll sponsor the rest of your trip.”

Silence fell across the table.

Lucas stared at him.

“You don’t have to do that.”

Matteo shrugged.

“It’s nothing.”

Lucas shook his head.

“No, that’s too much.”

Jamie leaned forward.

“Wait—”

Lucas shot him a look.

Jamie ignored it.

“Like… hotels and stuff?”

Matteo nodded.

“Anything you need.”

Lucas turned back to him quickly.

“No, we can’t accept-.”

Jamie spoke at the same time.

“Yes we do.”

Lucas turned toward him slowly.

Jamie smiled.

“Free vacation.” He mouthed to him

Lucas’s jaw tightened.

“Jamie.”

Jamie shrugged again.

“What?”

Lucas lowered his voice.

“We can’t just—”

Jamie cut him off.

“We accept.”

Lucas stared at him in disbelief.

Matteo’s eyes flickered with mild amusement.

Enzo watched Lucas quietly.

Lucas leaned back in his chair.

Anger bubbled slowly in his chest.

Jamie had just agreed for both of them.

Without asking.

And Lucas didn’t like the feeling settling in his stomach at all.