The ride back to Luca’s estate was steeped in silence. Elena sat curled in the passenger seat, her arms crossed tightly as though shielding herself from the storm raging within. Luca’s knuckles turned white against the steering wheel, his jaw tense as he navigated the dark, empty roads.
Her father’s men had gotten too close tonight—closer than Luca was willing to tolerate. Dominic had made his intentions clear: this wasn’t just a threat. It was a declaration of war.
As they pulled into the long driveway leading to his estate, Luca glanced at Elena from the corner of his eye. Her face was pale, her lips pressed into a tight line. He hated the doubt he’d planted between them earlier, but tonight had forced him to confront a truth he couldn’t ignore: Dominic was using her as a pawn, and Luc
