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