Chapter 5 - Blood in the City
1300 Words
Elena didn’t move.
She couldn’t.
“The Bratva is already in the city.”
The words echoed in her head, drowning out everything else.
And Luca…
He smiled.
Not nervously.
Not uncertainly.
Calm.
Almost… pleased.
“What do you mean they’re here?” Elena asked, her voice tight.
The man standing in the doorway shifted slightly.
“They’ve been spotted near the east district,” he said. “Three vehicles. Armed.”
Elena’s stomach dropped.
“That’s not far from here.”
“No,” Luca said quietly.
“It’s not.”
He turned toward his man.
“How many?”
“At least six confirmed. Possibly more.”
Luca nodded once.
“Double security.”
“It’s already being handled.”
“Good.”
The man hesitated.
“They’re asking questions about a woman.”
Elena felt her chest tighten.
Of course they were.
“They have her name,” the man added.
Silence filled the room.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
Luca’s expression didn’t change.
But something shifted in his eyes.
Something colder.
“Leave us,” he said.
The man nodded and disappeared, closing the door behind him.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Elena let out a shaky breath.
“This is because of me.”
“Yes.”
The bluntness of his answer hit harder than she expected.
“You’re not even going to pretend it’s not?”
“I don’t lie about things that matter.”
Elena turned away, running a hand through her hair.
“This is a disaster.”
“It’s manageable.”
“Manageable?” she snapped, turning back to him. “There are armed men looking for me!”
“And they won’t get to you.”
“How can you be so sure?”
Luca stepped closer.
Because I control this city.
He didn’t say it.
But it was there.
In his posture.
In his voice.
In the way he looked at her.
“You’re in my house,” he said instead.
“That’s the safest place you can be.”
Elena shook her head.
“You don’t know that.”
“I do.”
“How?”
Luca’s jaw tightened slightly.
“Because no one moves in this city without me knowing.”
Elena stared at him.
“And you think that makes me feel better?”
“It should.”
“It doesn’t.”
For a moment, silence stretched between them.
Then Luca exhaled slowly.
“Come with me.”
Elena frowned.
“Where?”
“You wanted to understand my world.”
Her pulse quickened.
“Not like this.”
“You don’t get to choose the timing.”
Before she could argue, he turned and walked out of the room.
Elena hesitated.
Then followed.
The air outside felt colder.
Sharper.
The moment they stepped into the main hall, Elena noticed the difference.
More guards.
More movement.
Men speak in low, urgent voices.
Something had changed.
The house wasn’t just a home anymore.
It was a fortress.
“What’s happening?” she asked.
“Preparation.”
“For what?”
Luca didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he led her toward the front entrance.
The large doors opened.
And Elena froze.
Three black vehicles were parked outside.
Men stood around them.
Armed.
Serious.
Waiting.
Her stomach twisted.
“Who are they?”
“My men.”
“That’s… a lot of men.”
“It’s necessary.”
Luca walked down the steps.
Elena followed, her heart pounding.
One of the men stepped forward.
“Boss.”
“Report.”
“They’re moving closer,” he said. “We think they’re testing the area.”
“Let them.”
The man nodded.
Then his eyes flicked briefly to Elena.
“She’s the one?”
Luca’s expression hardened instantly.
“Yes.”
The man didn’t ask another question.
Smart.
Elena swallowed.
“They know what I look like?”
“Probably.”
Her chest tightened.
“This just keeps getting worse.”
Luca glanced at her.
“Stay close.”
That didn’t sound like a suggestion.
They moved toward one of the vehicles.
Elena hesitated.
“Wait.”
Luca stopped.
“What?”
“You’re not seriously taking me out there.”
“I am.”
“Why?”
“Because hiding won’t solve this.”
Her heart raced.
“That sounds like a terrible plan.”
“It’s the only one.”
Before she could argue, Luca opened the car door.
“Get in.”
Elena stared at him.
“You’re insane.”
“Possibly.”
“Luca......”
“Get in, Elena.”
Something in his tone made her stop.
Not loud.
Not aggressive.
But final.
She got in.
The city looked different at night.
Darker.
More dangerous.
Elena sat rigid in the seat as the car moved through the streets.
Two vehicles followed behind them.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“To remind them where they are.”
“That doesn’t sound reassuring.”
“It’s not meant to be.”
Elena looked out the window.
Every shadow suddenly felt like a threat.
Every passing car made her tense.
“You’re not scared at all, are you?” she asked quietly.
Luca didn’t look at her.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because fear makes people careless.”
“And you’re not careless.”
“No.”
Silence settled between them.
Then-
The car slowed.
Elena’s breath caught.
“What’s happening?”
Luca’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“Stay inside.”
The car came to a stop.
One of the men in front stepped out.
Then another.
Elena’s pulse spiked.
“What is it?”
Luca didn’t answer.
Instead, he opened his door.
“Luca-”
“Stay.”
He stepped out.
The door closed behind him.
Elena’s heart pounded as she watched through the window.
Three figures stood across the street.
Men.
Watching.
Waiting.
Even from this distance, she could feel it.
The tension.
The danger.
One of them stepped forward.
Said something.
Luca didn’t move.
Didn’t react.
He just stood there.
Calm.
Controlled.
Like he owned the ground beneath his feet.
The man said something else.
Louder this time.
And then-
Everything happened at once.
A gun lifted.
A shot rang out.
Elena gasped.
Her hands flew to her mouth.
But Luca didn’t fall.
He didn’t even flinch.
Because the man who fired the shot…
Was already on the ground.
One of Luca’s men had taken him down instantly.
The other two men froze.
And that’s when Elena saw it.
The shift.
The realization.
They weren’t dealing with someone equal.
They were dealing with someone stronger.
Luca stepped forward slowly.
Deliberately.
He said something Elena couldn’t hear.
But she didn’t need to.
The message was clear.
Leave.
Or die.
The two remaining men backed away.
Then turned.
And ran.
Just like that.
It was over.
Elena’s chest rose and fell rapidly.
Her hands were shaking.
Luca turned.
Walked back to the car.
And got in like nothing had happened.
Elena stared at him.
“You could have been killed.”
“I wasn’t.”
“That’s not the point!”
“It is.”
His calmness was infuriating.
Terrifying.
“You just stood there.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Luca looked at her.
Really looked at her.
“Because they needed to understand something.”
Her voice dropped.
“What?”
His eyes darkened.
“That you’re not theirs to take.”
Silence filled the car.
Heavy.
Charged.
Elena’s pulse quickened.
“And whose am I?” she asked quietly.
Luca didn’t hesitate.
“Mine.”
The word sent a shiver down her spine.
Not just fear.
Something else.
Something far more dangerous.
And for the first time…
Elena wasn’t sure if she wanted to fight it.
Or fall into it.
- Writer
