All Chapters of His Brother's Bride To-Be : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

A WOUND AND A WARNING ••Luciana••“How did it happen?” Roman’s voice barely rises above a whisper, yet it hits me like a command.He stands so close the air around us feels guarded, like even oxygen needs permission to touch me.“I didn’t see his face,” I breathe out. “He wore a mask. He grabbed me from behind before I could turn.”My fingers tremble, just a bit—not enough to be considered fear, but just enough to be bothersome.Roman’s gaze shifts to my arm. The cut isn’t deep, but blood trickles down my skin in a thin, red line.“Is that the only injury?” he asks.“Yes.”“You’re sure?”“I’m not fragile,” I shoot back.His jaw flexes. Maybe he wants to argue. Maybe he wants to shake me. Maybe both.“We need to exit without drawing attention,” he states, stepping closer. “Just hold on… I’ll support you.” He wraps an arm around me, guiding me toward the exit with gentle pressure, as if I might collapse. Absurd. Yet, I don’t pull away.Outside, lights spill onto the pavement, and faint

PIECES ON THE BOARD ••Roman••“We've got a lead,”Theo entered, his expression revealing the weight of something significant on his shoulders.As the days folded into each other, the chaos of that night dulled. At least for everyone else, but my mind, however, remained restless.“Valerio’s men are moving crates through the old port. It’s not the usual stuff.” He continued.In my experience, crates at the old port typically hinted at weapons or, more often, trouble.I signaled to the team. Hours later, we navigated the desolate warehouse district, our boots barely making a sound on the cracked concrete, the air heavy with dust. Theo was the first to spot him—a Valerio courier sneaking out the side door, like a rat sensing danger. We cornered him behind a stack of crates.He lunged for a knife, but Theo swiftly kicked it aside. I seized his collar and shoved him against the wall.“Marco Valerio,” I demanded. “What’s his plan?”He hesitated, and Theo nudged him with his boot. “Spill

UNINVITED FEELINGS••Luciana••“Send a message to him.” Roman's husk voice was the first thing I heard as I drifted awake slowly. My lashes fluttered, and a soft glow pushed into my sight. I turned a little, stretching under the warm sheets, before my gaze collided with something that yanked every last trace of sleep from my veins.My eyes moved to Roman, he just hung up on a call.He stood at his side of the bed, his back turned, and shoulders broad enough to block the morning light. A towel clung to his hips, nothing else. Water trailed down his back in slow drops, sliding over his muscles carved like someone took their time sculpting him. His shoulders rolled once, tightening and loosening, and the movement tugged my breath away.My eyes drifted lower. A tattoo sat on his arm, dark ink coiled over warm skin. Something about tattoos had always been my weakness, i always admired them on my Celebrity crush. On him, the effect was worse, it was like danger wrapped in art. My stomach fl

BRIDGING THE DISTANCE ••Roman••When I entered the room that evening, I found Luciana sprawled out on the bed, looking as if she had given up on the world. Her head was deeply embedded in the pillow, while a half-empty cup of chocolate milk rested on her table, accompanied by an empty carton lying nearby. She didn’t acknowledge my presence—not even a flutter of her eyelids. I might as well have walked in as a ghost.I noticed the windows were locked, the air inside thick and stifling. I approached and opened them wide, letting the cool night air flow in.“Everything okay?” I inquired.“Just perfect,” she snapped back, her tone sharp enough to slice through silence.Right. Message received. That tone belonged in a museum under a plaque titled ‘Absolutely Not Fine.’I took her response as a clear "no," but I made my way to the bathroom regardless. After a shower, I emerged wearing sweatpants with a towel draped over my shoulder. As I stepped out, she dashed past me into the bathroom, a

YOU NO LONGER BELONG HERE ••Roman••“The messages were from an unknown source,” I informed Theo as we drove along. “Luci didn’t just happen to stroll out that morning. Someone drew her to Pier Twelve.”Theo’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Any idea who it might be? What’s their motive?”“That’s the key question we need to answer,” I said. “Whoever it was certainly anticipated her arrival.”Theo let out a quick breath. “You might not like what I’m about to share. I’ve gotten wind that Marco Valero is organizing some sort of high-profile banquet. He’s inviting all the mafia families under the guise of promoting peace.”I rolled my eyes. “Peace? Marco doesn’t have a clue what that word means. Trouble is his middle name.”“He’s definitely up to something significant,” Theo added.“What’s happening with the recent shipment we flagged?” I pressed.“I’m still on that,” Theo replied. “No concrete news just yet.”I tapped my fingers against my leg, feeling the urgency. “We need to uncover the