- ARIA
The five-hour drive back to the city was a masterclass in mental warfare.
Luca didn't say a single word after the service station blow-up. He just stared at the asphalt, gripping the steering wheel firmly, his jaw so tight I thought it might actually crack.
He hadn't eaten. Not a single bite of the "sawdust" or even a clean piece of fruit. He was doing that Alpha thing—martyring himself because the world wasn't meeting his standards.
By the time we pulled into the mansion’s sweeping driveway, the sun was dipping behind the jagged skyline of the city.
Luca parked the SUV with a violent jerk. He didn't jump out to open my door like he usually did. He stayed slumped in the seat for a second, his face a shade of gray that made my stomach do a nervous little flip.
"We
