BILLIONAIRES VENDETTA

CHAPTER 6: THE COST OF CONTROL

LUCA'S POV

I stood at the window of my office, looking out at the city that sprawled below me. The sun had just begun to rise, casting a golden glow over the skyline, but there was no peace to be found here. My thoughts were tangled in a web of my own making. I was the capo, the head of the De Rossi empire—but here I was, forced to tie myself to a woman I barely knew. All for control.

"Stai pensando troppo, Luca," Adriano's voice cut through my thoughts. (You're thinking too much, Luca.) He had entered my office without knocking, a liberty only he was allowed. He leaned against the door frame, arms crossed, eyes narrowed in that way that always meant he was going to challenge me.

"What is it now, Ricci?" I asked, not bothering to turn around. I could feel his judgement like a weight pressing down on my shoulders.

"You've made your decision, but dragging that woman into our mess? Is it truly worth it?" he asked, voice heavy with concern. "This is not what your mother meant. You know that, right?"

I stiffened at the mention of my mother. Her condition had worsened, and the pressure from the famiglia to produce an heir, to cement my control, had grown unbearable. "She's the perfect solution," I said, my tone clipped.

"Natalie will do as she's told. If she cares about her brother, she'll fall in line."

Adriano shook his head, stepping closer. "You think forcing her to marry you will solve everything? La famiglia doesn't need another unwilling member, Luca. This isn't how your father would have done things."

I turned to face him, eyes blazing. "My father is dead, Adriano. This is my empire now, and I'll run it how I see it." The words came out sharper than intended, but I was too angry to care. How dare he question me in my own territory?

"Do you even care what this will do to her?" Adriano shot back. "The girl's life will be over. She'll be trapped, just like—"

"Just like my mother, right?" I finished for him, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "This is not the same."

Adriano's jaw clenched. "You're blinded by your ambition, Luca. You're becoming exactly what you swore you'd never be."

"Enough." I cut him off with a wave of my hand. "She will marry me, and that's the end of it. If you have a problem with my decisions, you know where the door is."

Adriano's eyes hardened, but he said nothing more. He turned and walked out, slamming the door behind him.

I let out a breath I didn’t know I’d been holding. The truth was, I hated this as much as Adriano did. But it was the only way. The De Rossi name carried weight, but it also came with enemies at every turn. Having Natalie by my side would buy me time, show the famiglia that I was serious about securing the future. Even if that future was built on lies.

---

I made my way to the estate's dining room. The sun had fully risen by now, casting a warm glow on the marble floors. The chef had prepared breakfast, but I had little appetite. Instead, I watched as Natalie and her brother Daniel picked at their plates. They were seated at the far end of the long table, like prisoners waiting for their execution.

Natalie's eyes were dull, the defiance from days ago was replaced with exhaustion. She hadn't slept; that much was clear. Daniel, on the other hand, looked ready to explode, his knuckles white as he gripped his fork.

"What's wrong, tesoro? Not hungry? Food's not to your taste?" I drawled, leaning back in my chair. The look she shot at me could have burned through steel.

"Stop pretending you care," she spat. "Just tell us what you want so we can get this over with."

A smirk tugged at my lips. There she was. The fire that made this little game interesting. "What I want is simple," I said. "Your cooperation. You'll be moving here, of course, until the wedding."

"The wedding," Daniel scoffed, finally speaking up. "This is insane. You think you can force my sister into marrying you like we're living in some medieval era?"

I shrugged. "We're not in the past, ragazzo, but we are bound by certain... traditions." I leaned forward, letting the threat simmer in my gaze. "And your sister’s compliance ensures that you, Daniel, will continue to breathe."

Natalie's fists clenched, but she held her tongue. I almost admired her restraint. Almost.

"Now," I continued, standing up, "you will both do as you're told. Adriano will drive you to the hospital today again, Natalie. Consider it your last taste of freedom."

She didn't respond, but the look she gave me spoke volumes. If she thought she could find a way out of this, she was sorely mistaken. I was Luca De Rossi, and I always got what I wanted.

ADRIANO'S POV

The car ride to the hospital was always tense. I sat up front, darting my eyes between the road and the rearview mirror, watching Natalie and Daniel in the backseat. Natalie was silent, her gaze lost to the window. Maybe she was thinking about how to handle the whole situation. Maybe she was trying to figure out what to say to her best friend, Olga, after yet another day spent in the company of the same two men who had driven her into this nightmare.

I couldn’t help but admire Olga though, even though she wasn’t present at the moment. She was a woman who could handle herself in any situation. Thick blonde hair cascading down her back, an enviable figure that made it hard to focus. She had a presence, and she didn’t need to speak loudly to be heard. Even from the way she carried herself, I could tell she was trouble—trouble in the best possible way.

I shook my head, pushing thoughts of Olga aside. Now was not the time for distractions.

I glanced at Natalie again. "You know, this could all go much smoother if you stopped fighting, Nat," I said, trying to break the tension in the car.

She turned to me, eyes blazing with defiance. "You think I want this? Being forced to marry a man like him?"

"Luca has his reasons," I muttered, convincing myself in the process. "This is how our world works."

Natalie scoffed. "Your world is insane. This isn't life—it's a prison."

Daniel shifted uncomfortably beside her, clearly torn between guilt and his need to protect her.

"I'm sorry, Nat," he muttered under his breath. "I never meant for this to happen."

"Yeah, well, intentions don’t matter now," she shot back. "We're both stuck."

I pulled up to the hospital, turning to face them. "I'll be waiting in the car today. You both go ahead."

Natalie nodded to what I said, stepping out with Daniel. But before she walked away, she turned to me and said, "If you think I'm just going to roll over and accept this, you're wrong."

I offered a sad smile and said, "I wouldn't expect anything less."