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 bru

his 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