The air inside the warehouse was cold and heavy, suffused with the scent of damp wood and lingering oil. Elena stood in the center of the dimly lit space, her heart pounding as she watched Luca pace back and forth. His face was shadowed, his expression inscrutable. The photos, Dominic’s threats, and the poisonous whispers from Luca’s world had all begun to take their toll.
“Luca,” she started, her voice trembling. “You promised to let me prove myself. Why are we here?”
He stopped, turning to her with a look that sent a chill down her spine. His blue eyes, usually filled with warmth and fire, were now cold, distant. “I thought I could trust you, Elena. I wanted to. But every time I try to give you the benefit of the doubt, something else comes up. Another lie. Another threat.”
Elena’s th
