Mag-log inDahlia’s POVI didn’t know how long I had been sitting there.Time felt strange in the dark, like it didn’t move the way it used to. My wrists hurt from the ropes, my back ached from the chair, and my throat felt dry from fear and silence. The darkness pressed in on me from all sides. I couldn’t see anything. I could barely hear anything except my own breathing and the pounding of my heart.Then I heard it.A door.It opened slowly, the sound loud in the quiet room. My breath caught in my chest. Footsteps followed. Calm. Unhurried. They moved closer, one step at a time, and with every step my fear grew. I held my breath without meaning to, my body stiff with panic.Suddenly, the lights snapped on.I gasped, squeezing my eyes shut as the brightness burned. When I opened them again, a tall man was standing right in front of me. The light made his shadow stretch across the floor toward my feet.He looked young. Around my age. Well put together. Calm in a way that felt wrong.I stared at
Luca’s POVWe drove for a long time before the cars finally slowed and turned off the main road.The city lights faded behind us, one by one, until there was nothing but darkness and open space. No horns. No voices. Just the low hum of engines and the sound of tires on rough ground. The farther we went, the heavier my chest felt, like the night itself was pressing down on me.The warehouse appeared ahead of us, large and lonely, sitting in the middle of nowhere. Dark. Silent. Wide. It looked abandoned, but it wasn’t. It was waiting.I chose this place on purpose.I didn’t want Marco anywhere near my mansion. That house was more than walls and furniture. It was my home. My wife’s home. It held memories of quiet mornings, shared meals, soft laughter. I would not poison it with blood, screams, or revenge. This filth belonged somewhere else.The metal doors groaned as they rolled open, the sound harsh and loud in the still night. It echoed, sharp and ugly. Our cars moved inside slowly, he
Luca’s POVWe drove for a long time before the cars finally slowed and turned off the main road.The city lights faded behind us, one by one, until there was nothing but darkness and open space. No horns. No voices. Just the low hum of engines and the sound of tires on rough ground. The farther we went, the heavier my chest felt, like the night itself was pressing down on me.The warehouse appeared ahead of us, large and lonely, sitting in the middle of nowhere. Dark. Silent. Wide. It looked abandoned, but it wasn’t. It was waiting.I chose this place on purpose.I didn’t want Marco anywhere near my mansion. That house was more than walls and furniture. It was my home. My wife’s home. It held memories of quiet mornings, shared meals, soft laughter. I would not poison it with blood, screams, or revenge. This filth belonged somewhere else.The metal doors groaned as they rolled open, the sound harsh and loud in the still night. It echoed, sharp and ugly. Our cars moved inside slowly, he
Luca’s POVWe got out of the cars one by one, slow and silent, moving with care. Doors were closed gently, not slammed. Engines were shut off, leaving the night almost too quiet. My men spread out around me, slipping into the shadows like they had done this a thousand times before. Every movement was controlled. Every step was planned.The city smelled different here. Old concrete. Oil. Cold air mixed with something sharp. The kind of place where deals were made and people disappeared.Dante lifted his hand slightly, signaling us to hold.He had an earphone in, his head tilted just enough to show he was listening closely. I had one in my ear too, connected to the same audio feed. Every sound came through clear—footsteps, distant traffic, low voices. My pulse stayed steady as I focused.Then I heard her.“Hello, Marco.”Denise’s voice.Hearing it made my jaw tighten, but I stayed st
Luca’s POVWhen she finished, she shut down the computer, pulled the hard drive out, and slipped it into her pocket. She tried to put the folders back where she found them, but she was rushed now. Nervous. Things weren’t exactly where they had been before.Then she slipped out of the office.I switched my attention to the audio feed coming from the bracelet.Her voice came through softly, low and urgent.“Yes,” she whispered. “I got the files.”A pause.“Yes. All of them.”Another pause, longer this time.“Tonight?” she asked.My jaw tightened.Then she spoke again. “Alright. I’ll be there, sir.”Sir.So that was how it was.Her boss.I locked my phone and slid it back under the pillow. I shifted slightly, just enough to make it look natural, then went completely still again. I slowed my breathing, letting it fall back into the deep rhythm of sleep.Moments later, the bedroom door opened again.She slipped back inside, just as quietly as she had left. I felt the mattress dip as she cl
Luca’s POVI reached into my pocket and took out the small box. My fingers tightened around it for a second before I handed it to her. She stared at it like it might disappear if she blinked too hard, her eyes shining with curiosity and something darker underneath.“What’s this?” she asked softly.“Open it,” I said.She took the box from me carefully and lifted the lid.Her reaction was instant.She gasped, one hand flying to her chest as the diamonds caught the light and sparkled back at her. Her mouth fell open slightly, and for a moment she just stared, completely stunned.“Oh, Luca…” she breathed. “It’s beautiful.”“Thank you,” she said again, louder this time. “Thank you so much.”I nodded and forced the right words out of my mouth. “Anything for my beautiful wife.”Hearing myself say that almost made me choke, but she smiled wide, clearly pleased. She held the bracelet up, turning it from side to side, admiring every detail. Exactly like I knew she would.I took the bracelet from







