Maria's Heart
tly in her hand. The text from Luca-"I'm fine. Don't worry about me"-w
. But her thoughts kept circling back to him, to the way he had looked at her
before she got pulled in any deeper. Yet he
terrupted by a knock at her door
ed unannounced. Cautiously, she approached the door, her fingers bruhis suit slightly disheveled
pening the door. "Luca?
d simply, stepping inside wit
e as she turned to face him. "You can't
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to invade your space. But after what happ
hat did happen tonight? I saw the news, Luca. People were hurt-so
t's not a world I chose, Maria. But it's the one I was born i
rs?" she asked, her voic
presence both intimidating an
er resolve faltering unde
licted
mouth to respond, but no words came out. She felt torn between two opposing f
her voice waverin
hifting to one of regret. "I'm sorry," he said quietly. "I s
but Maria's hand shot out
, his eyes s
above a whisper. "But if we're going to figure it out, you nee
. But honesty goes both ways, Maria. Are you
ence was an
dow of
ice, a cigar smoldering between his fingers. The confrontation
ic growled, his voice thick with rage. "Bu
amed Carlo, shifted uncomfortably in
his face. "We hit him where it hurts. He wants to play t
inic meant, but he nodded obedien
, his tone cold and calculating. "Everyone
rous Pr
in the doorway, his hesitation a stark co
need to ask you," h
s, her skepticism ret
matter," Luca explained. "Someone who won't
row. "You're asking
I need your advice. There's a deal coming up-one that could end this f
ith Luca's world was a risk she couldn't afford to take. But the look in his
cautiously. "But I'm n
hint of gratitude flickering i
of Ref
hting to uphold the law, to protect those who couldn't protect themselves. But Luca's world was one where
poken to her with a mixture of confidence and vulnerability. Des
, who had been her anchor for years. She knew he ca
rt was a battlefield, torn between two men
c's Ne
on. Carlo had spent the night gathering intel
to across Dominic's desk. "DeLuca's been seen w
a sinister smile spreading
want us to do
DeLuca dig his own grave first. But when the time comes, we'll make
aotic swirl of Luca, Dominic, and the faint but looming shadow of danger. She rolled over, staring at the ceiling as
her decisions was already pressing down on her. Car
rmen asked, handi
Maria muttered, ta
a's office phone rang. She frowned, glancin
i," she answe
liar voice said. "I trust you'
ch twisted. "
sociation with Luca DeLuca," the man replied. His tone was ca
tightly. "I don't know w
You've caught Luca's attention, and that makes you... interesting to me. But
n in her chair. Her heart pounded as sh
broke through the sile
ugh her hands trembled. "
't fine. No
it to
ek black building loomed over her, its reflective windows offering no hint
re? she thought. I
e pushed the door open and
r expression polite but curious
is expecting m
re nodding. "Take the el
to the elevator. Her reflection stared back at her in the mirrore
ned, Luca was alre
surprised but not displea
id, brushing past him and
r, his brow furrowe
"I got a call this morning. Someone who kn
ened, his jaw tighteni
you," Maria replied. "And they mad
nning a hand through his hair. "It's Domin
sank. "Why? Wh
do anything to weaken me, and he thinks t
This is exactly why I shouldn't be here, Luca. I'm not cut o
gaze steady. "I'll protec
she said, her voice brea
Maria. I've spent my whole life building walls, keeping people at a distanc
etter judgment, she let him pull her into his arms, the warm
nic'
ice, a glass of whiskey in hand. Carlo
Carlo reported. "Just l
f course she did. DeLuca's weakness has always been his nee
next move?"
. "We let him think he's in control. But when the time comes, w
e speaking. "You thin
e has a breaking point, Carlo. It
rous In
mind. She wanted to believe him, to trust that he could keep her safe.
d by a knock at the door. Sh
called out, her
" a familiar
oor to find her childhood friend standing
ian said, stepping inside. "An
hands trembled. "I'm fi
narrowing. "You're not tell
ing her head. "No. But it's
"Maria, you know you can trust me.
ent, she considered telling him everything. But sh
softly. "But this is somethi
d, but he nodded. "Just pro
d, though she wasn't s
eplayed Adrian's visit, Luca's promises, and Dominic's looming threat. Ever
ht, staring at the dark ceilin
her from her thoughts. She reached for it,
I warned you to
at the text. Before she could r
you didn't listen, you'll
expecting someone to emerge from the shadows, but she was alone. Her
n her phone, and she hes
You should check
eps silent against the hardwood floor. With trembling han
welcome mat, its petals gli
p, her fingers brushing against the silky petal
stem was a sma
ching as she read the words scr
a, or next time it
Before
her computer screen. The note from the night before burned i
make things worse. The last thing she wanted was to give
cheerful demeanor a sharp contrast to Maria
wned. "A
e bouquet of white lilies. A delivery man foll
?" Maria asked,
e man said be
. She reached for the small envelope tucked into the
the note
erything. Let me
t he could shield her from the storm brewing around them. But the truth
's Firs
ed back in his chair, a s
ge?" he asked Carl
clear," Ca
should keep her in line for
e this is the right move, bos
him try. By the time I'm finished, he won't have anything left-
ase flickered in his eye
"Patience, Carlo. We'll let them stew for a wh
ision
side Luca's office once again. This time, she didn't
is surprise quickly replaced by
m, her gaze unwaver
ated, rising
the storm raging inside her. "Whatever you need-lega
, his eyes searchin
stantly looking over my shoulder," she said firmly. "And second...
xpression serious.
her shoulders. She knew there was no turning back now. She was in