Maria's Heart

from her professional one. But as she stood before a crowded courtroom the following morning,

jor corporation, yet Maria found it difficult to focus. The shadow of th

guments. On any other day, Maria would have relished the challenge of dismantling her oppon

snapped her out of her daze. "Do

ning her composure. "No, You

e court. As the room emptied, Maria packed her briefcase

r outside the courtroom,

there," Carmen said as th

smile. "Just a

Carmen replied. "You've been

g on the strap of her briefcase.

If you say so. Anyway, you've got a lunch meeting wi

," Maria said quick

odding. "Alright. But if

aid softly, watching as h

's W

nto fists. He hadn't slept much the night before, his though

The man thrived on fear and manipulation, and Luca ha

uc

-hand man and closest confidant. Luca

it?" Lu

Enzo said. "It's one of Dominic's guys-Carlo Ru

ghtened. "Whe

houses," Enzo replied. "But he's s

his head. "Not yet. Let him think he's untoucha

"And Maria? Wh

h his voice remained firm. "I'll

ic's

game. His meetings were conducted in shadow

action," Dominic said, sipping his w

ckled. "DeLuca's completely off

ing into a cold smile. "And we're goin

xt step?" anot

lating. "We make her doubt him. Plant seeds of mistrust. She

hat doesn

. "Then we take her out

ky Al

the city's bustling center. He had insisted on the locati

uca asked as they slid

. She handed it to him, showing him

read the messages. "It's

"But why is he so focused on

ed with frustration. "He knows I care abo

skipped a be

ake her hand. "I never wanted you to be involved in

back to the rose on her doorstep, t

w if I can,"

n. And you have to. Because if we're going

ption. But all she saw was determination-and some

ly. "I'll trust you. But

t," he

dowing

ed to pull strings behind the scenes. He was patient, calculating,

, caught between two powerful men an

uctant

mind. "We need to work together." It sounded simpl

pavement, when she felt it-a prickling at the back of

nning for movement. She clutched her purse tight

ver's seat and locked the doors immediately. On

ed. She hesitated before picking it up, half-

, it wa

?" Carmen's voice wa

ed, though her voice

ou've been so distant lately. And those guys f

e the weight of what she was carrying. But how could she

e," Maria said finally. "Bu

d. "You don't have to go through

er chest tightening. "I'll

said reluctantl

n the passenger seat. For a moment, she jus

lt more alone

nic'

sleek black car, his gaze fixed on the

ked Carlo, who sat i

ything's in place. We'll deliver

tisfied smirk. "Good. This will

uca?" Ca

ick up the pieces. By the time he realiz

ression. He had followed Dominic for years, but

Carlo?" Dominic asked, hi

efore shaking his

darkening. "Because the last t

ing Su

an usual. She wanted to get ahead of her workload, t

ed her desk, she st

of her desk, its surface blank except fo

it up. She glanced around the offi

e opened the envelope an

locations: leaving a warehouse, meeting with men who were clearly

through the photos. At the botto

the man

of context, but they painted a damning picture. And t

ng him, demanding an explanation.

at if he's been lying

houghts a whirlwind o

s Rea

fice. She slammed the photographs onto his d

this," sh

picked up the photos. His jaw tig

" he asked, his voice cal

ria replied. "Are they real, Lu

ria, listen to me. These photos are a setu

estion," she said, her voi

ed. "But it's not

what it is, Luca. Because right now,

ould never use you, Maria. Everything I've done-everythin

in the air, hea

but the doubt remained.

Because you know me, Maria. You know the kind o

t the images, the threats, th

said, her voice bar

ime you need. But just know, Dominic won't stop until he's des

ge of

caught in the middle of a battle far bigger than herself, and no matt

m the shadows, his plans unfol

with each passing moment, she wa

er had crumbled. The photographs, his admission, and Dominic's

stions she couldn't answer. Every corner of her life felt tain

eginning to set, casting long shadows over the empty benches and paths. She

o do? she thought, s

e pulled it out reluctantly. It was an

couldn't be trusted. Walk aw

scream, to throw the device as far as she could. Bu

an I

it seemed,

iet

at the photographs Maria had left behind. His th

said, standing by the window.

ied, his voice low.

his expression grim. "W

ely. "We need to find out how he's getting to her.

I'll put our b

lenched. "I won't let him destroy

g again. "And if she decides

e remained. "Then I'll let her go. B

c's Ne

lass of whiskey in hand. He stared out at th

" Carlo said fro

rong, but even the strongest people have their l

mfortably. "And if

unyielding. "Everyone breaks, Ca

's Re

stood from the park bench. She had spent hours there,

couldn't run from this. Dominic's threats, Luca's secrets, her own

er phone and dia

n the first r

No more half-truths. No more protecting me. If I'm going t

plied, his voice filled with relief and determina

her pocket. She didn't know what the future held, b

lay with fire, she'd m

wing the

air heavier. She could feel the weight of the storm approachin

he felt a flicker of hope. She wa

o let Dominic-or anyon