Maria's Heart

ghtly her knuckles turned white. The sprawling mansion loomed in front of her, its stone

eamed at her to turn back. Trusting Luca felt like standing on the e

back now. Not after every

guard nodded at her and stepped aside, letting her in without a word. The inter

. When she entered, he rose from his chair an

softly, gesturi

over her chest. "No games, Luca. No evasi

. But you need to understand that what I'm about to

d. "What doe

r to sit again. This time, she oblig

of S

ria. "You already know Dominic and I have history," he beg

ago, Dominic and I worked together. We were partners, building an empire from th

uspected Luca had a dark past, but h

appened?"

hing and everyone. He didn't care who he hurt as long as he got what he

her arms still cros

pire. But Dominic didn't take kindly to that. He saw it as

to all of this?" Maria

e connected to this than you realize. Dominic doesn't jus

row furro

m," Luca said simply. "And beca

k her head. "That doesn't explain why he's targeting

ghtening. "There's one more thin

er?" Maria cut him

than you'd ever imagine. Your father was one of his top men until he tried to leave. Dom

uca, her mind reeling. "You're lying,

ut it's the truth. Your father's death

loor. She paced the room, her hands trembling. "Why di

nd of fear," Luca said. "And maybe she didn't know

ack to Luca. "And you? Were

now until years later. And when I foun

on a mix of anger and anguish. "Prot

, standing as well. "Dominic did. And I've b

eyes. "I don't know if I can believe you, L

c's Po

Dominic was already moving hi

o stood before a table covered in documents, photographs, a

ng ready?" D

tment, her office, and her favorite spots around the ci

l smile tugging at his

eeding him," Carlo said. "But he's getting sloppy. H

t him unravel. And when the ti

usly. "And Maria? What do you want

cold, calculating glare. "Maria is lev

sentence. Carlo nodded, under

Into th

g out into the night. She felt like a ship adrift in a s

"Maria, I know this is a lot to process. But I n

guarded. "Trust isn't something you can

er. "And I'll spend the rest of

s heavy with unspoken words, unresolved tension, and somethi

"Alright. But if you li

promised, hi

indow. The city stretched out before her, a sea of lights and shadow

matter of time before the

Five, diving deeper into Maria's inner turm

's Tu

aria turned away from the window, pacing the room like a caged animal. Her

ad been the defining wound of her life, a pain she had never fully healed from. To think

ther told her the tru

voice broke thro

ng. "You should've told me this e

admitted. "But I wa

itterly. "Or keep me in the

ght argue. But then his shoulders sagged, and he look

s the best way to keep you safe. But I see now that I was wrong. You're

e damn right I do. And from now on, you don't get

ded. "Un

's Calc

sk. He held one photograph in his hand, a candid shot of Maria leaving her office. She

nic muttered to himself,

he's tougher than she looks, boss. She m

breaking point, Carlo. Maria is no exception. T

Do you think she knows the ful

I thought. But it doesn't matter. The truth is a double-edged sword, an

sn't?" Carlo as

. "Then we'll give her a reason to. If she

eyes. He knew how far Dominic was willing t

ight o

egs feeling weak beneath her. She rested her elbo

r, but he knew his touch might not be welcome right now. In

ve you alone?" he aske

-rimmed but fierce. "No," she

ning forward. "A

he demanded. "Was it just to prote

so didn't know how you'd react. I was afraid you'd push

, Luca. I'm angry, confused, and hurt,

nodded in acceptance. He k

bling slightly. "If he killed my father, why

knows that if he can hurt you, he can hurt me. And if he can

e doesn't get to win, Luca.

ned. "Then we fig

War

d learned. That night, after returning to her apartment, she sat al

Did you know that working for D

r out of her thoughts. It was

o close to the truth, Maria. Be c

he stared at the mess

her-they knew her darkest fears, her most vulnerable m

p breath and typ

his? What do yo

came almos

survive. But that won't happ

mind game, another attempt to manipulate her. But a small part

et fear consume her. But as she lay in bed that night, staring at th

ent P

staring out at the darkened skyline. His thoughts were con

how much was at stake. Dominic wouldn't stop until he had torn them apart,

ain: he would die befo

him, Luca made a silent pro

t you face

Before

at had long gone cold. The text from the unknown number lin

was filled with pictures of her father: birthdays, holidays, quiet family moments that s

ll of life. It was impossible to reconcile the loving man

out of her thoughts. It was

ed at her to let it go to voicemail. B

she said

er end, followed by the fain

ria demanded, her

hilling her to the bone. "You're

d. "Who are you?

far you're willing to go for the truth. Let'

could respond. Maria stared at

s Dec

ed. He glanced at the screen and saw Maria's n

okay?" he asked,

one who seems to know a lot more about my life than

round the phone. "Did

ack off, and they seem to

"This is Dominic's doing. H

g. "I feel like I'm being watched everywhere I go, like

e important than you realize, and that's exactly w

her voice was softer, almost vulnerable. "I don't know if I can do this,

"You're stronger than you think, Maria. And yo

determination in her voice. "Okay. But if we're going to fight Dominic, we need

at Luca's lips. "That

c's Ne

restaurant, swirling a glass of red wine. Across from him sat an

ck," Dominic said, tak

ing her further will work? You're playing a dang

aid with a smirk. "She's got fire, and I want

us. "Be careful. If you push too hard, you mig

never hurt anyone. Besides, it's not about cont

et that Luca won't stand by and let you tear her apart. He'll f

t he quickly recovered. "Luca's time is r

's Re

tment, staring out at the city. The cool night air

her some comfort, but it hadn't era

ove. But as much as she wanted to run, she knew she couldn't. Her father's death, Luca

rse, she had to

might be out of her depth, but she wasn't powerless. Dominic wanted to

and closed the balcony door behind her. Tomorro

but she was determin