Her heart, His Rules

The deal with the devil

The screech of tires cut through the tense silence, another black SUV blocking the opposite end of the alley. Elena’s heart hammered as she clung to Luca’s arm. He didn’t flinch, his sharp gaze darting between the two vehicles.

“We’re surrounded,” she whispered, her voice trembling.

Luca smirked, the corner of his mouth curling up in a way that was equal parts infuriating and terrifying. “You’re quick to state the obvious.”

Before she could retort, doors from both SUVs opened, and more of her father’s enforcers spilled out, their weapons raised. The leader, a towering man with a scar slicing through his cheek, stepped forward.

“Luca De Santis,” he called, his voice as sharp as a blade. “Hand over the girl, and we’ll let you walk away.”

Luca chuckled darkly, tilting his head. “Do you think I’m that stupid? The moment I hand her over, I’ll be full of holes before I take my next breath.”

Scarface sneered. “Maybe. Or maybe you’ll just save us the trouble.”

Elena tightened her grip on Luca’s arm, her panic rising. “They’ll kill us both,” she hissed.

Luca glanced at her, his expression unreadable. “Not if I have anything to say about it.”

With a sudden motion, he pulled her behind a dumpster. Before she could protest, the sound of gunfire erupted, bullets ricocheting off the walls.

Elena crouched low, covering her ears as chaos consumed the alley. The sharp scent of gunpowder filled the air, mingling with the coppery tang of blood. Luca moved with lethal precision, taking down one man after another, but there were too many of them.

“This isn’t going to work!” she shouted over the gunfire.

He turned to her, his jaw clenched. “Do you have a better idea?”

Before she could respond, a bullet grazed the edge of the dumpster, narrowly missing her head. She gasped, her fear morphing into raw adrenaline.

“Stay close,” Luca barked, grabbing her wrist.

He led her down a narrow side alley, the sound of footsteps and shouts close behind. Every nerve in Elena’s body screamed for her to run faster, but her heels made it nearly impossible.

“Wait!” she gasped, stumbling.

Luca spun around, his eyes blazing with frustration. Without a word, he scooped her into his arms, carrying her as if she weighed nothing.

“This would be easier if you weren’t wearing those damn shoes,” he muttered.

She barely managed a glare. “I didn’t exactly plan for a gunfight tonight.”

Despite the situation, a small smirk tugged at his lips, but it quickly faded as more gunfire echoed behind them. He ducked into an abandoned building, kicking the door shut behind him.

The room was dark and damp, the air thick with the scent of mildew. Luca set her down gently, his breathing heavy but controlled.

“We can’t stay here,” he said, reloading his gun.

Elena leaned against the wall, her chest heaving. “Where do you expect us to go? They’re everywhere!”

Luca’s gaze locked onto hers, a dangerous intensity in his eyes. “You wanted out of this life, didn’t you? Well, congratulations, Elena. You’re out. But freedom comes with a price.”

She flinched at his words, guilt twisting her stomach. “I didn’t ask for your help.”

He stepped closer, his towering frame casting a shadow over her. “No, but you needed it. And now you owe me.”

Before she could respond, the sound of footsteps echoed outside. Luca grabbed her hand, pulling her toward a back exit. They slipped into another alley, but the moment they emerged, a car screeched to a halt in front of them.

A man stepped out, his face obscured by the shadows. But the voice that followed made Elena’s blood run cold.

“Hello, darling.”

Her father.

Elena froze, her heart pounding as Cesare Moretti emerged from the car. His sharp suit was immaculate, his expression calm, but his eyes burned with fury.

“Elena,” he said, his voice deceptively soft. “Come here.”

She shook her head, her legs refusing to move. “No.”

Cesare’s jaw tightened, his gaze shifting to Luca. “De Santis, this doesn’t concern you. Hand her over, and I’ll forget this ever happened.”

Luca laughed, the sound cold and mocking. “You must think I’m an i***t. If I hand her over, I’m dead the second I turn my back.”

“You’re already dead,” Cesare snapped. “But I might make it painless if you cooperate.”

Elena’s hands trembled as she stepped forward, her voice shaking. “Papa, please. Just let me go.”

Cesare’s gaze softened, but it was a façade she’d seen too many times before. “Come home, Elena. We can fix this.”

She shook her head, tears stinging her eyes. “There’s nothing to fix. I’m done being your pawn.”

His mask slipped, and rage twisted his features. “You ungrateful little—”

Before he could finish, Luca fired a warning shot into the air. The sound echoed through the alley, silencing everyone.

“Enough,” Luca growled. He pulled Elena behind him, his gun trained on Cesare. “She’s with me now.”

Cesare’s lips curled into a sinister smile. “With you? Do you think you can protect her? Do you think she’s safe with *you*?”

Luca didn’t waver. “Safer than she’d ever be with you.”

For a moment, the tension was palpable, the air thick with unspoken threats. Then Cesare stepped back, gesturing to his men.

“Fine,” he said. “Have it your way. But this isn’t over.”

As his men climbed back into the cars, Elena’s knees buckled, and she would have collapsed if Luca hadn’t caught her.

“You okay?” he asked, his voice uncharacteristically gentle.

She nodded weakly, though her mind was spinning. “What now?”

Luca’s jaw tightened. “Now we get out of here. But make no mistake, Elena—you’re mine until this is over.”

She wanted to protest, to tell him she didn’t belong to anyone. But before she could speak, a deafening explosion rocked the alley, throwing them both to the ground.

Smoke and debris filled the air, and as Elena struggled to breathe, she realized the cars her father’s men had left in were now engulfed in flames.

Luca cursed, pulling her to her feet. “We need to move.”

But Elena couldn’t tear her eyes away from the destruction. “What…what just happened?”

Luca’s grip on her arm tightened as he dragged her forward. “Someone else is playing this game, and they just raised the stakes.”

As they disappeared into the shadows, Elena’s mind raced. If Cesare hadn’t ordered the explosion, who had?

And why did she have the sinking feeling that her betrayal was just the beginning?

**To be continued...**