Bound to the mafia heir

CHAPTER 2 — SHADOWS DON’T MAKE MISTAKES

The world tilted by the time Sera registered someone pulling her backward. Hands not rough, not gentle guided her behind a wall just as another shout split the alley. She stumbled, nearly losing her grip on the package she’d accidentally protected with her life.Didn't tell you to move a voice ordered behind her hard-edged with authority.

Luca.

A sudden clatter snapped her focus. One of the rival men had thrown something metal across the ground, not a weapon Something else round and silver.Luca’s eyes flicked toward it.He tensed for the first time since the fight.Flash,one of his guards warned.

Too late.

A burst of light exploded, white and searing. Sera flinched, squeezing her eyes shut. Her ears rang. Shadows jerked across the walls. And then a rush of movement.Luca stood in the middle of it all, breathing steady, assessing the mess with a calm expression.Then his gaze cut to her assessing her

She squared her shoulders instinctively even though her legs shook.You shouldn’t be here, he said.It wasn’t an accusation or maybe it was but delivered so quietly that she didn’t know how to classify it.I didn’t plan it, she said, voice hoarse. I was just delivering coffee.His eyes flicked down to the tray, then to the package she’d shielded earlier.You protected that, he said.She swallowed. I…thought someone was trying to steal it.

His voice lowered, more analytical than impressed how the fight shifted.how the target changed you reacted faster than people trained for this.A pulse of heat rushed to her cheeks not pride, not fear, but something confusingly in-between.I wasn’t trying to be involved,she muttered.Luca studied her like he was trying to decode her in return. Maybe, he said. Maybe not.

Sera cleared her throat. So… do I just leave Luca turned his head slightly. You saw too much.Her stomach dropped,I didn’t mean to…..I know.

Something in the way he said it made her chest tighten.Before she could answer, one of the guards jogged over with a phone. He held it out. Sir, it’s him.Luca’s jaw flexed him? the rival the man from the alley?The smirk that felt like a warning?

Luca didn’t take the phone put it on speaker the guard obeyed.A voice crackled through a cold, amused drawl.Arden, he said. Your operation got sloppy today.

Sera froze.

Luca didn’t blink. If you needed attention, you could’ve asked.A soft laugh on the line. You picked up something that wasn’t yours.His eyes shifted briefly to Sera.Her blood turned to ice.The voice continued, tone filled with cruel amusement. I wonder how long you can keep your new little observer alive.Sera’s breath caught Luca didn’t move. Didn’t react. His stillness was more scarier than anger.Then, quietly touch her, and I’ll take your word for it.Her heart thudded hard The rival hummed protective already? Interesting. The call ended with a click.

You’re coming with me,he said Sera took a step back. What? No I have work, you have enemies now, Luca said quietly. His voice didn’t rise, but it carried a weight that pinned her in place. You saw too much, and they know your face.He glanced at the package in her arms.And you’re holding something they want. Her fingers clenched around it without meaning to.Luca,one of his men warned suddenly.

He looked up. What? The man pointed. Sera’s stomach twisted when she followed his gaze on the rooftop across the street a silhouette watching her watching them.The same rival’s silhouette. Unmoving

Luca’s voice hardened. Get her into the car now Sera’s pulse spiked. And for the second time in one hour, her life was no longer hers.Sera barely had time to register the rooftop silhouette before someone gripped her elbow not forcefully, but with urgency and guided her toward the SUV. The cold night air rushed past her as boots pounded the pavement and Luca’s men fanned out in sharp formation.

One of his men spoke from the front seat. The rooftop guy disappeared, might’ve been a warning.Or a test Luca said his gaze returned to Sera there was something unsettling about the way he studied her not because it was predatory, but because it was precise. Luca didn’t just look at people he dissected them till they had no other choice but to tell the truth.

You said you were just delivering coffee

I was

You intercepted a package mid-fight

I didn’t mean to

You reacted before my men

She swallowed. I just… saw it,

Saw what, he pressed, exactly?

Her voice faltered the patterns and angles at which it was tossed the way the men moved. Who was going after what.His jaw tightened not in irritation, but realization.So you weren’t guessing.

Where is this she whispered. What did I get dragged into.Nothing you asked for, Luca said but everything you’re now a part of a chill ran through her. I don't want to be part of it, that choice was taken from you the second he saw your face he meant the rival, the voice on the phone , the silhouette on the rooftop Sera’s stomach twisted what does he want power,Luca said, control and anything he can use to get it her pulse stuttered. Including me? Luca leaned forward slightly; the shift was small, but the impact was immediate he felt closer, sharper, more present.

He thinks you matter, he said. That makes you a target.Why would I matter? That’s what I’m trying to figure out.She exhaled shakily her fingers dug into the package, what’s even in this thing? Trouble, Luca said and leverage ,then his gaze shifted to her hands. May I see it? Luca extended his hand steadily, in a way that made her refusal feel unreasonable slowly, she handed it over.She swallowed It’s… not decoration,I know everyone knows that's why we fought for it, they are instructions,she murmured, coordinates hidden in the negative spacing whoever wrote this didn’t want it readable at first glance.

Luca stared at her for a long, silent moment. You saw all that,he said, in two seconds.Sera didn’t know why she felt embarrassed my brain just… works like that. That's one useful brain you have there,Luca said softly.No one had ever called her skill useful strange, yes overthinking, yes but useful? Never.Before she could respond, the SUV stopped the doors clicked.

The door beside her opened a new figure appeared tall, broad, carrying the kind of authority Luca’s men obeyed instantly, Sir the man said, nodding at Luca. Everything was clear. Sera stepped out cautiously they were in front of a nondescript building dark glass, no signs, silent guards It didn’t need a name power never advertised itself.As Luca stepped out behind her, something shifted in the air the guards straightened, heads lowered slightly respect, fear and loyalty.

People didn’t bow dramatically they didn’t need to their posture shifted when he passed, spines straightening, gazes lowering, conversations halting mid-sentence. Even those who didn’t look at him seemed aware of his presence.He didn’t acknowledge any of it he didn’t need to.Sera followed closely because she didn’t know where else to go.

His eyes drifted to the package again the black box inside it, the coded markings.Show me,he said Sera blinked show you what?What you saw earlier how you saw it,she hesitated, then slowly moved to the table. Whoever wrote this wanted someone to think it’s an artifact, but it’s really… instructions Luca’s brow lifted slightly keep going Sera leaned closer her pulse sped up not from fear, but because the code was unfolding in her mind like pages flipping open.The symbols repeat every seven units, but the negative space breaks every fourth pattern that means the real message is in the gaps.Luca’s expression sharpened.

He leaned over the table, eyes narrowing that’s a warehouse district Is that important?It wasn’t. His voice darkened until now before she could ask, the door banged open. A guard rushed in, breathless Sir you need to see this.Luca straightened what happened?

The guard hesitated only a second before saying something that made Sera’s stomach drop.He posted her Sera blinked posted?The guard handed Luca a phone.Luca’s jaw tightened the second he saw the screen.Sera stepped closer, adrenaline surging what is it? He turned the phone slightly so she could see her breath froze a picture of her taken in the alley.Half-hidden behind crates, clutching the tray, eyes wide It was posted on a darkweb feed she didn’t recognize.

Above it, a message in block text:

ANYONE WHO FINDS HER, BRING HER TO ME

— ADRIAN MARKOV VALE

Sera grabbed the table to steady herself what do I do? Luca didn’t hesitate you stay with me.She stared at him, breathless why would I trust you? you don’t have to his expression hardened but if you leave this building, you won’t survive an hour the room fell silent then another guard burst in eyes wide sir security just flagged movement near the perimeter.Luca stiffened whose? The guard swallowed VALE’S.