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