Luca

16 - This isn't over!

Luca

“Luca!”

I barely have one foot out of the car before someone’s already shouting my name!

I roll my eyes at Carlo, the bodyguard I left to watch over Sofia while I was at work. He’s a big guy with tough fists, quick reflexes, and he’s fiercely loyal to the family. I knew Sofia would be safe with him.

Today, I left the office early, my meeting wrapped up fast, and all I could think about was Sofia. Tonight, I want to take her somewhere special, just the two of us. I don’t care about her last name—she deserves kindness. All I wanted was a quick shower and a quiet evening with her. If Carlo’s got something to say, he’d better spit it out.

“What is it, Carlo? I’m busy.”

“I know. But there’s something you should know. Dray will be pissed at me for this, but it’s the right thing to do.”

I sigh. “If Dray told you not to say anything, then you shouldn’t. You know he’ll kill you if he finds out you’ve said anything.”

“I know,” Carlo nods. “And usually, I wouldn’t. But this is really important.

“Carlo, just get to the point!” I snap. “I’ve got things to be getting on with.”

“Right.” He nods. “Well, Dray, Antonio, and Marchello dragged Sofia to the warehouse. We both know what Dray’s going to do to her.”

My eyes widen.

“And you just let them?! I hiss.

Carlo shakes his head. “I’m sorry, Luca. But you know what Dray is like. I tried to talk to him, but he threatened to blow my brains out. Luca, I heard Dray say that he’s going to push Sofia to the limit. We all know what that means.”

That Dray doesn’t intend to let Sofia live.

No!

I’m gonna kill Dray!

I get in my car and drive off without saying anything else. My mind is racing. I know what Dray is like and what he can do. He wouldn’t have done this without my father’s approval. I’ll have to talk to him when I get back.

I reach the warehouse in record time, tires screeching. With the way I was driving, it’s a miracle I didn’t wrap the car around a pole.

I check my gun, cold metal steady in my grip, and slide it into my belt. If Antonio or Marchello gets in my way, I won’t hesitate to kill them. As for Dray—even blood won’t save him from a bullet if it comes to that.

How dare they go behind my back like this!

I rush through the doors just in time to see Sofia on her knees, gun to her head, and pulling the trigger.

“No!” I scream.

The empty chamber echoes louder than the shot Sofia just fired.

She screams, eyes closed, tears streaming down her face, and pulls the trigger again.

Dray’s laughter ricochets off the walls as Sofia gasps, the gun clattering to the floor. Dray wipes his eyes. “Brave little Romano.”

“You bastard!” I yell.

Dray’s eyes turn to me, mocking. “Chill out!”

I grit my teeth and rush to Sofia’s side. She sags against me, whimpering, shivering. She’s soaking wet, and it doesn’t take a genius to work out what my brother did to her.

“It’s okay, sweetheart. I’m here now, and nothing else is going to happen to you. I promise.” I kiss her head. She’s shaking in fear against me. I look at my brother and grit my teeth.

Dray lights a cigarette, unbothered. “Relax, Fratello. Daddy’s orders.”

As if I hadn’t already figured that out myself!

“What the hell did you do to her?” I snarl.

Dray exhales smoke and shrugs. “Not much.”

My hand moves over Sofia’s trembling form. “Why are her clothes ripped? Why is she bleeding?” I demand, staring at my fingers now stained with her blood.

“I cut her a couple of times,” Dray says as if it’s nothing. “I also drowned her for a few moments, then forced her to tell me if she was willing to die for you. Then, I forced her to choose – her life or her brother’s. She chose to protect Marchello. Once a Romano, always a Romano. Remember that, Luca.”

My jaw clenches, cracking with the force of it. “You bastard!” I yell. “Of course she was gonna choose to save her brother! Anybody would, and you know it! And you!” I look at Marchello. “How could you just stand there and let this happen to your own sister?”

Marchello steps forward, hands raised. “Luca, listen—"

“Shut up.” I turn away from him. I’ll deal with Marchello later. I lift Sofia’s head and look into her eyes. They’re red from the drowning and no doubt crying. “Are you hurt anywhere else?” I murmur.

She nods her head, fingers twisting in my shirt. “My knee hurts.”

I look down at her leg, lifting the hem of her dress to see what’s wrong. I grit my teeth again because there’s a red circular mark embedded just above her knee cap. It looks deep, and the bruise around it is spreading. “What the hell is this?”

“For f**k’s sake.” Dray huffs. “I pressed the barrel of my gun to her leg. It’s not like I shot her there! It’ll heal, you drama queen.”

Antonio shifts his weight, fingers twitching near his holster. I catch the movement and laugh—a sharp, ugly sound. “Try it,” I hiss. “Give me a reason.”

“I wasn’t going to do anything, Luca. How long have you known me?” Antonio asks.

“As long as you’ve known me, and you should know by now that you do not cross me! All three of you went too far. You had no right to do this without consulting me first! Do you have any idea what you could have done?”

Dray just shrugs, cold as ice. He doesn’t care that he nearly killed Sofia. He’d have left her here without a second thought, not losing a wink of sleep.

Stupid bastard!

I knew Dad would want to put Sofia through something like this, but not to this extent. It doesn’t matter that Sofia is the daughter of Roberto Romano; Dad would never have allowed Dray to draw blood. The scare tactics, yes. Maybe even drowning to frighten her. But cutting her open? Dad would not have allowed.

Why did Dad even trust Dray with something like this?

He knows how dangerous his youngest son can be. As for dragging Marchello along, that would have been to put him in his place. Dad doesn’t fully trust the man yet, and scaring him in the process is a good thing. The fact that Marchello obviously stood back and allowed this to happen will please my father to no end.

But Sofia is a young girl. She’s just nineteen years old, and she didn’t deserve this!

Dray crushes his cigarette underfoot. “Cute.” He flicks his gaze to Sofia. “Tell your fiancé how you held a gun to your own head like a good little martyr.”

I grit my teeth and pull Sofia closer to my body, trying to keep her as warm as possible.

Marchello’s voice cracks. “She thought you’d loaded it.”

“She was meant to!” Dray snaps. “What would have been the point of telling her that there were no bullets in the damn gun, Marchello? What lesson would she have learned then?”

The warehouse lights flicker, shadows stretching across the floor. I stand, lifting Sofia with me, guilt burning in my chest. I swore I’d protect her, and I failed. In my world, I’ve seen monsters do unspeakable things, but I’d never let this happen to someone like Sofia—so young, so innocent.

I brush Sofia’s cheekbone with my thumb, then gently move her behind me. My shoulders block her view, but I know she hears my pistol slide from its holster.

I pull my gun faster than anyone can blink and point it right at my brother.

Dray smirks. “Really? Gonna shoot me in front of her? Ruin that white knight fantasy?”

“You’re a fuckin.g asshole, Dray! You’ve disappointed me, Fratello.”

Dray’s eye twitches. He never could handle being told he’s a disappointment. I’ve never said that to him, but I am right now. God knows that I am so disappointed I could strangle him with my bare hands!

For a heartbeat, no one moves. Then Antonio mutters something in Dray’s ear. Dray chuckles, turns to Sofia, and tells her, “See you at dinner, principessa. Wear something pretty.”

I hold the back of Sofia’s head to my chest and tell my brother, “Leave, Dray!” I turn on Marchello. “You—"

Sofia grabs my arm. “Don’t, Luca. Please.” Her voice sounds so weak. I need to get her out of here and to the family doctor. I want him to give Sofia a complete health check.

Marchello’s eyes gleam wet. “Sof—"

“You knew,” I interrupt. “You f*****g knew what Dray had planned, and you just went along with it! I could understand that when it comes to someone else, but Sofia is your sister!”

Marchello’s throat works. “No… not like this. Yes, your dad informed me this would happen, that Sofia would be brought here, and that we were to scare her. But I didn’t know Dray would go this far. Draven said this had to be done because Roberto would expect it. We had to make it look real to sell him the lie, Luca.”

I squeeze my eyes shut, shaking my head. This is so twisted. Romano would love knowing Don Vidal put his daughter through hell—he’s sick like that. But Dray didn’t have to go this far.

Sofia steps around me. “Luca. Please take me home,” she says quietly.

I let out a slow breath, slip off my jacket, and wrap it around Sofia’s shoulders. She gazes up at me as I scoop her into my arms bridal style.

Marchello reaches for her. “Let me—"

I slap his hand aside. “Touch her again,” I growl. “And you’ll be picking your teeth off the floor. This isn’t over, Marchello. Not by a long shot.”