BLOODLINE BARGAIN

The Night the lie began The man begged before dying. That was the first thing Samantha noticed. Not the gun. Not in the blood. Not even her coat soaking from the rain. The begging. "Please," the man choked, his knees pressed against the wet concrete. "I was loyal." Above them, the lights in the warehouse buzzed softly and they blinked. Outside, waves crashed forcefully against the docks as thunder rolled over the port of Valtherra. Samantha wasn't meant to be there. She followed her dad. That was her first mistake. Stepping inside was the second. Her breath was shallow and her heart was pounding so hard that it hurt as she stood motionless close to the back entrance, hidden in the shadows behind piled shipping crates. The man on his knees was a few meters away from her father. The father who used to burn pancakes on Sunday mornings didn't resemble Daniel Bree at all. His shoulders were stiff. His hands remained steady. And standing directly in front of the man, kneeling. Luca Moretti. Even in the dim light, he was impossible not to notice. Black suit. No tie. Dark hair pushed back from his brow. Calm. Too calm. The kneeling man was crying. He said, "I didn't leak anything." "You are familiar with me" I've been employed by you for ten years. Slowly, Luca knelt before him. He took his time. "You did," Luca said softly. He didn't speak loudly. It was not necessary. "Three routes for shipments. There are two security codes and a schedule for the council. The man gave a violent shake of his head. "No, I promise." Luca's head shifted slightly. "You swore loyalty once, too." Quiet. It started to rain more heavily. Samantha was having trouble breathing. This meeting wasn't for business. This was not an accounting situation. This was a death meeting. Her father moved forward slightly. "Luca," Daniel explained carefully, "we still don't have full confirmation." Luca did not look at him. "I do." The kneeling man broke them. Tears mixed with rain. "They threatened my son!" he cried. "I did not have a choice." Luca tightened his jaw slightly. "You've always got a choice." Then he stood. He pulled a gun from the back of his waistband. Without delay. The shot sounded deafening inside the warehouse. The man's body struck the ground. Still. Samantha's ears were ringing, swallowing up everything. Her stomach turned violently. This was not a movie. This wasn't a rumor. This was real. And her father. Her father did not move. He looked down at the body, as if it were paperwork. That broke something inside her. A guard stepped forward and dragged the body away without a word. Luca wiped the rain off his cheek slowly. "Clean it," he instructed. His voice remained steady. Controlled chaos. He made a slight turn. His gaze fixed on Samantha's shadow. Her blood became cold. He saw her. He did not move. Did not react. But he saw her. Daniel noticed the shift. He followed Luca's gaze. His face had lost its color. "Samantha?" The name echoed more loudly than the gunshot. Everything froze. Her dad's eyes widened. "Why are you here?" Her voice came out thinner than she wanted. "You lied to me." Rain dripped from the metal roof's edges. Luca approached her slowly. Not rushed. Not aggressive. Every step felt like pressure was building in her chest. "I followed you," she said, looking at her father. "You mentioned you were reviewing some shipping audits." Daniel opened his mouth, but no words came out. Samantha gave Luca her full attention now. Up close, he was much worse. Not because he seemed cruel. Because he seemed composed. As if killing someone was part of his daily routine. "You are Luca Moretti," she said. It was not a question. He looked at her closely. "And you are where you shouldn't be." Her hands shook slightly, but she kept them by her sides. They're at her sides. "The man." "Betrayed us," Luca replied calmly. "That is not justice." "It is in this place." Daniel moved forward quickly. "She wasn't supposed to know," he stated sharply. Luca's gaze shifted towards him. "No. "She wasn't." The weight of those words pressed down heavily. You know what? Samantha looked between them. "You know what?" Daniel seemed scared. I suddenly felt guilty. The silence lasted too long. Samantha's chest tightened. "Dad." He swallowed. "I work for him," Daniel replied quietly. The words did not land right away. They sensed a delay. Then they struck. "You do accounting." "For his organization." The air shifted. Her thoughts raced. Shipping routes. Late-night calls. Home security systems are expensive. She wasn't allowed to touch the encrypted laptop. "You are with the mafia," she whispered. Daniel's shoulders dropped. "Yes.” Her vision blurred slightly. She breathed, "No." "You mentioned you handled import logistics." "I do." "For him." She slowly turned to face Luca. "You are using my father." "No," Luca replied evenly. "Your father created my financial structure." Her heart started racing. Built? Daniel moved closer to her. "I was about to tell you." "When?" she demanded. "After someone shot me, too?" His face cracked slightly at this. "I was protecting you." "By lying?" "Yes." Her chest felt tight. Her entire life changed in one second. Then something else clicked. The man is on his knees. The killing. The leak. "You attempted to leave," she said slowly, looking at her father. Daniel's eyes look confused. Luca's expression sharpened slightly. "You followed me because you knew something was wrong," Daniel explained cautiously. "You tried to run," she insisted. Silence. That was her response. "You betrayed him?" she whispered. Daniel's voice cracked. "No, I discovered something." Luca's eyes narrowed slightly. Daniel turned to face Luca. "We do not have time for this." "For what?" Samantha asked. Daniel hesitated. "There's someone in the council passing information to our rival company." The warehouse seemed colder. "I discovered inconsistencies in the accounts," Daniel added. "Hidden transfers. Quiet reroutes. "Someone high up." Luca paid close attention to him. "And instead of bringing it to me," Luca observed quietly, "you tried to disappear." Daniel's jaws tightened. "I wasn't sure who I could trust." Silence fell again. Samantha looked between them. "You think he's the leak?" she said to Luca. "I don't think," Luca said calmly. "I verify." "What if he isn't?" Luca didn't respond. That response was clear enough. Fear went up her spine. "They'll kill you," she told her father. Daniel did not respond. Luca took a slow step closer to Samantha. "You should not have come tonight." Her pulse quickened. "It's too late." Thunder cracked loudly overhead. The warehouse's lights were blinking again. A guard rushed in unexpectedly. "Boss." Luca made a slight turn. "We have movement at the south docks. Armed." Daniel's face became pale. He whispered, "They found out." Samantha's heart increases its pace. "You found out what?" Daniel looked at her with a look of regret. "I sent a message to somebody outside." Luca's head snapped towards him. "What is the message?" Daniel's voice shaking. "I needed insurance." The sound of tires screeching outside echoed throughout the warehouse. Gunshots echoed in the distance. Not inside. Yet. Luca's whole posture changed. Cold calculation activated immediately. "How many?" he questioned the guard. "Multiple vehicles." Luca looked at Daniel. "You involved one of our enemies." "I needed protection." Another round of gunfire sounded outside. Closer. Samantha's breathing became quick and sharp. She whispered, "This is my fault." "No," Luca replied quietly. He looked at Daniel. "You've just declared war." The warehouse doors exploded inwards. Men stormed in, firing. Chaos began. Guards shouted. Bullets passing through crates. Samantha ducked instinctively, her heart racing rapidly. Daniel grabbed her arm. "Stay behind me!" Luca moved quickly. Not reckless. Efficient. Two shots. Two men are down. He drew Samantha down behind a steel container just as a bullet ripped through the space where her head had been. Her ears rang. She looked at him. Up close. Rain dripped from his hair. Guns are steady. Focused eyes. "You cannot be here," he said. "I understand," she whispered. Another explosion rocked the building. Daniel shouted across the warehouse. "Luca! "They're here for the files!" Files? Samantha's stomach dropped. Luca's gaze sharpened. "Which files?" Daniel paused for half a second too long. The gunfire became more intense. Daniel turned and dashed toward the office room in the back. "Dad!" Samantha screamed. Luca grabbed her wrists. "Don't." "He is going to get himself killed!" "He already has." The words landed hard. A rival gunman burst through the side entrance. Luca shot him cleanly. Samantha's whole body shook. This was not a story. This was wartime. Daniel emerged from the office, holding a small black drive. "They cannot have this," he exclaimed. Another gunshot rang out. Daniel jerked violently. Samantha screamed from her throat. He fell. The driver slid down on the wet floor. Luca moved immediately. He dragged Samantha down as more bullets flew through the air. Daniel lay on the concrete, blood spreading rapidly beneath him. Samantha moved toward him. "Dad!" He was conscious. Barely. His hand gripped hers loosely. "You were never supposed to know," he said softly. Tears blurred her vision. "What's on the drive?" she exclaimed. Daniel's gaze moved toward Luca. Then return to her. "It is bigger than him." Luca froze. Daniel tightened his grip slightly. They aren't just after territory. Gunfire echoed around them. Daniel leaned closer to Samantha. "They are after our bloodline." Her heart had stopped. "What does it mean?" Daniel's voice lowered to a whisper. "You are not collateral." Her breath caught. "You are protected." The entire world tilted. "What?" Another gunshot echoed. Daniel's body became still. Perfectly still. Samantha's scream was swallowed by the chaos. Luca drew her back as more of our rival men stormed in. The black drive sat between blood and rain. Luca grabbed it. His expression shifted for the first time. Do not be afraid. Recognition. "They knew," he said. "Know what?" Samantha demanded through tears. His gaze locked on hers. "They understand who you truly are." Another explosion ripped through the warehouse walls. Men are shouting. Metal collapses. The rival company was pushing through. Luca grabbed Samantha’s face suddenly. “You trust me or you die here.” She stared at him. Her father’s blood is still on her hands. Her entire life was destroyed in minutes. She swallowed hard. “I don’t trust you.” He nodded once. “Good.” He pulled her to her feet. “Run.” Behind them, the warehouse collapsed inward in flames. And as they disappeared into the storm. Samantha realized something terrifying. This wasn’t about her father. This wasn’t about a leak. This was about something buried. Something connected to Luca’s family. And somehow. It involved her