attempt to reassure her, and it was doing anything but that. She knew she shouldn't care. He was a client at best, and a complication at worst. But

s internal conflict was interrupted by a knock at her door. She froze, her pulse quickening. She hadn't told anyone where she lived, and her friends

door. "Luca? What are you doing here?" "I needed to see you," he said simply, stepping inside without waiting for an invitat

pened tonight..." He trailed off, running a hand through his dark hair. Maria crossed her arms, her frustration mingling with concern.

you have to fight to protect what's yours." "And what exactly is yours?" she asked, her voice laced with scepticism. Luca took a step closer

law and the undeniable pull she felt toward him. "Luca," she began, her voice wavering, "you can't just-" Before she could finish, Luca stepped back, his expression shifting to one of

going to figure it out, you need to be honest with me. No more half-truths. No more secrets." Luca nodded, his gaze steady. "I can

n't gone as planned, but it was far from over. "DeLuca thinks he can humiliate me," Dominic growled, his voice thick with rage. "But he doesn'

ow he handles being the villain." Carlo frowned, unsure of what Dominic meant, but he nodded obediently. "What do you need me to do?" "Find

ere's something I need to ask you," he said, his voice low. Maria crossed her arms, her scepticism returning. "What is it?" "I ne

e and for all. But it has to be handled carefully." Maria hesitated, her instincts screaming at her to say no. Getting involved with Luca's world was a risk she couldn't afford to take. But the look in his eyes, the vulnerabi

e loyalty and survival took precedence over justice. She thought about the way he had looked at her, the way he had spoken to her with a mixture of confidence and vulnerability. Despite everything, she couldn't deny the pull she felt toward him. But then there wa

c's desk. "DeLuca's been seen with her a few times. Word is, he's interested." Dominic studied the photo, a sinister smile spreading across his face. "Perfect." "What do you want us to do?" Carlo asked

aotic swirl of Luca, Dominic, and the faint but looming shadow of danger. She rolled over, staring at the ceiling as

n asked, handing Maria a coffee. "You have no idea," Maria muttered, taking a grateful sip. Before Carmen could press for details, Maria's office phone rang. She frowned, glanci

sant, but it carried an undercurrent of menace. Maria gripped the phone tightly. "I don't know what you're talking about." "Come now, Maria. Let's not play games," the man said,

, her mind racing. "Maria?" Carmen's voice broke through the silence. "Everything okay?" Maria forc

ive windows offering no hint of what lay inside. She hesitated, her hand hovering over the door handle. What am I doing

d before nodding. "Take the elevator to the top floor." Maria's heels clicked against the marble floor as she made her way to the elevator. Her reflection s

into his office. Luca closed the door, his brow furrowed. "What's going on?" Maria turned to face him, her arms crossed. "I got a call th

trying to get to me through you." Maria's stomach sank. "Why? What does he want?" "Power," Luca said simply. "Control. He'll do anything to weaken me, and he thinks targeting you will give him t

"You don't know what you've done to me, Maria. I've spent my whole life building walls, keeping people at a distance. But you... you make me want to be better. To be someone worth protec

him," Carlo reported. "Just like you said she would," Dominic smirked, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. "Of course she did. DeLu

comes, we'll strike. And when we do, Maria Moretti will be his undoing." Carlo hesitated before speaking. "You think s

ruth: no one was truly safe in his world. Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. She froze, her heart pounding. "Who is it?" she called out, her voice trembl

rrowing. "You're not telling me everything, are you?" Maria hesitated before shaking her head. "No. But it's better if you don't know." Adrian frowned, his jaw tightening. "Maria, you know you can

n my own." Adrian's expression hardened, but he nodded. "Just promise me you'll

ry choice she made seemed to pull her further into a web she couldn't escape. Why am I doing this? she thought, staring at the dark ceiling. Why can'

I warned you to

at the text. Before she could r

you didn't listen, you'll

rge from the shadows, but she was alone. Her apartment was eerily silent, the only sound was h

You should check

e welcome mat, its petals glistening as if freshly plucked. Maria's stomach twisted. She knelt to pick it up, her fingers brushing against the silky petals. But as she turned the flower over, she froz

not even Luca. She couldn't shake the feeling that doing so would only make things worse. The last thing she wanted was to give Dominic the satisfaction of knowing he had

ia's desk. "Who sent these?" Maria asked, her voice wary. "No card," the man said before leaving. Maria's chest tightened as she

le: I'm sorry for everythi

t he could shield her from the storm brewing around them. But the truth

yet." Carlo hesitated. "Are you sure this is the right move, boss? What if DeLuca retaliates?" Dominic's smirk vanished, replaced by a cold, hard glare. "Let him try. By the time I'm finished, he won't have anything left, not his power, not his allie

m his chair. "I'll help you," she said, her voice steady despite the storm raging inside her. "Whatever you need-legal advice, strategy, anything. But I have conditions." Luca stepped closer, his eyes searching hers. "Name them." "First, you keep me out of harm's way. I can't do my job if I'm constantly looking over my shoulder," she said f