VELVET AND VIOLENCE:A Mafia romance

Chapter 11: Keep your head down?

Aria didn't see Luca for the rest of the day.

Not in the hallways, at lunch or even after the final bell.

And she hated how much that bothered her.

"It's probably nothing," Emma said as they walked toward the front gates.

Aria nodded.

But she wasn't convinced.

Something felt wrong.

Very wrong.

---

The next morning, Aria arrived at school earlier than usual.

She was halfway to her locker when a hand suddenly wrapped around her wrist.

She gasped.

"Luca!"

His dark eyes met hers.

For once, there was no teasing.

No smirk or jokes.

Only tension.

"Keep your head down today."

Aria blinked.

"What?"

"Just trust me."

The seriousness in his voice immediately caught her attention.

"Luca, what's going on?"

"I can't explain right now."

Her stomach tightened.

The hallway suddenly felt colder.

"You're scaring me."

A shadow crossed his face.

For a brief moment, Luca looked guilty.

"I know."

Before Aria could ask another question, footsteps echoed nearby.

Luca immediately stepped back.

His expression became unreadable.

The walls slammed back into place.

Just like that.

"Keep your head down, Bennett."

Then he walked away.

Leaving her standing there.

Confused And worried.

---

By lunchtime, the entire school seemed restless.

Students whispered more than usual.

Teachers looked distracted.

Even Matteo appeared tense.

Aria finally cornered him outside the cafeteria.

"Tell me what's happening."

Matteo hesitated.

"I can't."

"Why?"

"Because Luca would kill me."

"I'm serious."

"So am I."

For the first time since she'd met him, Matteo wasn't joking.

That scared her more than anything.

---

The final bell rang.

Dark clouds gathered above Blackthorn Academy.

The air felt heavy.

Like something bad was coming.

Aria was gathering her books when she heard shouting outside.

Students rushed toward the windows.

Curious voices filled the classroom.

"What happened?"

"Someone crashed through the front gate!"

"Was it an accident?"

Aria's pulse quickened.

Without thinking, she followed the crowd.

Outside, several black vehicles sat near the entrance.

Adults in dark suits were talking to school security.

Everything felt tense.

Dangerous.

And then Aria saw Luca.

Standing beside one of the cars.

His face was expressionless.

Cold and Controlled.

Nothing like the boy who teased her under umbrellas and waited by her locker.

For the first time...

She caught a glimpse of the world he came from.

And it terrified her.

As if sensing her gaze, Luca looked up.

Their eyes met across the courtyard.

For a second, something flashed in his expression.

Worry.

Not for himself.

For her.

And suddenly, Aria understood.

His warning hadn't been about him.

It had been about keeping her safe.

The realization sent a chill down her spine.

Because if Luca Moretti was worried...

Then whatever was happening was far bigger than she had imagined.

The courtyard erupted into chaos.

Teachers were ushering students back inside.

Security guards moved quickly toward the front gate.

Yet Aria couldn't take her eyes off Luca.

He looked different.

Not like the Luca she knew and the boy who teased her endlessly and made her smile when she didn't want to.

This Luca was guarded.

Dangerous and Distant.

And it scared her.

"Luca!" she called.

His head snapped toward her.

For a brief moment, panic flashed across his face.

Not because she'd shouted.

Because she'd gotten closer.

"Aria, stop!"

The sharpness in his voice made her freeze.

Students nearby turned to look.

Luca immediately started walking toward her.

Fast.

When he finally reached her, his jaw was tight.

"What are you doing?"

"What am I doing?" Aria repeated. "What are you doing?"

His eyes flickered toward the black vehicles.

Then back to her.

"Go home."

"What?"

"Now."

"I'm not leaving until you tell me what's going on."

For a second, Luca looked like he wanted to argue.

Instead, he sighed.

"You should have listened to me."

"I did listen."

"No, Bennett. I told you to keep your head down."

Aria hated how worried he sounded.

Because Luca Moretti wasn't supposed to sound worried.

Not ever.

A hand landed on Luca's shoulder.

Matteo.

"Dude, they're waiting."

Luca closed his eyes briefly.

Then looked back at Aria.

"I'll explain later."

"Luca—"

"Later."

The word came out firm.

Final.

Before she could stop him, he turned and walked away.

Leaving Aria standing there with a hundred unanswered questions.

---

That night, Aria couldn't sleep.

Again.

Rain tapped softly against her bedroom window.

The clock read 11:47 p.m.

Still no message or explanation.

Just nothing.

She grabbed her phone.

No new notifications.

A frustrated sigh escaped her.

Why did she care this much?

Why was she sitting awake worrying about someone who clearly wasn't telling her the truth?

The answer came immediately.

Because it was Luca.

And somewhere along the way...

He had become important.

Dangerously important.

---

Across town, Luca stood on the balcony of the Moretti estate.

The city lights shimmered below.

His phone rested in his hand.

A dozen times he had opened Aria's contact and a dozen times he had closed it again.

He wanted to tell her everything.

About the threats, the danger andvAbout why those cars had shown up at school.

But if he told her the truth...

She would become part of his world.

And Luca wasn't sure his world deserved her.

His phone buzzed.

A text from Matteo.

She's worried about you.

Luca stared at the screen.

Then another message arrived.

And honestly? You should probably call her.

For the first time all night, Luca smiled.

Small.

But real.

Because despite everything happening around him...

One thought remained constant.

No matter what came next...

He intended to protect Aria Bennett.

Even if it meant keeping her at a distance and breaking his own heart.