Episode 6:UNDER HIS RULES
1140 Words
After the meeting, the men slowly began to leave the don's reserve. Conversation was slow and uneasy.
Just as Luca wanted to step outside, a voice stopped him.
“Luca.”
Luca paused, turned, and saw Enzo Maretti standing a few steps away, his sharp eyes fixed on him.
“Where's Luciano?” Enzo asked calmly.
Luca slipped his hands into his pockets. “I don't see him.”
Enzo raised an eyebrow.
“That's strange,” he said. “Luca never misses meetings.”
Luca gave a small shrug. “Maybe he has something important to do.”
Enzo stepped closer, lowering his voice slightly.
“Luca…I know the two of you haven't exactly been getting along lately.”
Luca's jaw tightened slightly.
“So?”
“So,” Enzo continued, “if you did something to him, the don will want to know.”
Luca exhaled slowly, clearly losing patience.
"I have no idea where he is,” he said flatly. “Maybe he had errands to run… or maybe Luciano got hit by a car on his way here.”
Enzo studied him for a moment but said nothing more.
Luca turned and walked towards his car.
“Luca! Hold on!”
Luca paused as Nico Bellini hurried towards him, his face tense.
“What did you do to Luciano?” Nico demanded.
Luca ignored him and stepped into his car; Lily was already seated quietly in the back seat, staring at her hands.
“Relax, Nico,” Luca said as he started the engine. “I only taught him a little lesson.”
Nico frowned. “What does that mean?”
“It means he needs a reminder,” Luca replied coldly. “He shouldn't cross his limits.”
The engine roared as Luca drove off, leaving Nico standing in silence.
Inside the car, the tension was suffocating as Lily finally asked, her voice trembling, "Why are you doing this to me?"
"Why did you try to run?" Luca asked without looking back.
Lily fell silent as Luca kept his eyes on the road.
The rest of the ride passed in silence.
Hours later, they arrived at Luca's manor.
"Go change," Luca ordered as they stepped inside. "Give the dress and jewelry to the maid. You'll need them again for your first mission."
Without waiting for a response, he walked to the main entrance.
Lily gently took off her heels and walked barefoot toward her room.
Halfway down the corridor, she saw Zoe rushing toward her.
Zoe noticed her immediately and rushed over.
"Oh my God, Lily! Are you okay?"
Lily tried to smile, but her eyes were swollen due to the tears and stress.
"I'm fine…" she whispered, handing the shoes to Zoe.
"I'll give you the dress later."
"Wait," Zoe said nervously. “Where did he take you? What happened?"
Lily sniffed softly. “Let's go inside.”
Once the door closed behind them, Lily sat on the edge of the bed.
"It wasn't what I thought," she said quietly.
Zoe frowned. "What did you mean?"
Lily looked down at her hands. “I'll be their collector.”
Zoe blinked. "Collector… of what exactly?"
"I'll deliver packages… and collect others for the group," Lily explained slowly.
Her voice trembled.
"I don't know what's inside those packages. But the threats... the way they spoke... I'm scared."
Zoe didn't know what to say; she simply wrapped her arms around Lily and gently patted her back.
“You're not alone,” she whispered.
Exhausted, Lily slowly fell asleep in Zoe's arms.
"Zoe!" a maid suddenly called from outside.
Carefully, Zoe laid Lily down on the bed before hurrying out.
Moments later,
“No! Leave her alone! Don't hurt my child... Run!”
Lily jerked awake; her breathing was heavy, and sweat soaked her clothes.
"It was a dream," she whispered shakily.
Her thoughts drifted to Fiona.
"I hope you're safe…”
Elsewhere in the manor, Luca sat alone in his study. A glass of wine rested in his hand when his phone rang.
He placed his glass of wine down and answered lazily.
"Yes?”
A furious voice came through the line.
"You'll pay for this, Luca Santoro! I'm coming for you!"
Luca took a slow sip of his wine and smiled slowly.
"My darling younger brother," he said smoothly, "you should know better than to threaten me.”
He ended the call.
Later that evening, the doorknob turned as Zoe stepped inside Lily's room.
"Aren't you starving?” she asked softly.
Lily nodded.
"Stay here," Zoe replied with a small wink. “I'll bring something.”
That earned a faint smile from Lily.
Alone again, Lily sat quietly on the floor, humming the lullaby she once sang to Fiona.
"I miss you," she murmured.
Meanwhile, Zoe sneaked into the kitchen as she gently lifted the lid of the pot, making sure no one was watching before bringing out a blue container.
Carefully, she scooped some food into it and closed the pot gently without making a sound. She sealed the blue container and wrapped it in a black veil before quietly leaving the kitchen.
As she turned to leave, a maid stopped her.
"What's in the veil?" the maid asked suspiciously.
"Nothing," Zoe replied sharply and brushed past her.
The maid stood there, watching Zoe walk away.
"She's not part of us, yet you're feeding her our delicacy," she muttered angrily.
Zoe ignored her and hurried into Lily's room.
"I'm sorry it took so long," she whispered. "A maid questioned me."
She handed the container over. Lily's eyes widened.
"This much?"
"Eat quickly before someone notices.”
Lily didn't hesitate. Within a minute, the food was gone.
Zoe stood near the door, watching her with pitiful eyes.
Night fell. The Manor grew quiet as everyone prepared for bed.
Luca stepped into his restroom.
Suddenly—
Crack.
A sound came from his bedroom.
Luca froze. Then another crack followed.
“Someone is breaking in,” he whispered to himself.
He took his gun hidden beside the sink. Slowly, he pushed the restroom door open and aimed the gun towards the window.
A shadowy figure climbed in through the window.
Luca smirked. "You've picked the wrong house to rob.”
He aimed the gun directly at the intruder.
“Who the hell are you?”
The room was dark, illuminated only by faint moonlight.
The man chuckled as he raised two guns, aiming them straight at Luca.
"Oh please,” the stranger said calmly. “Let's do this like men.”
“Bold thief,” Luca said.
The man smiled faintly.
"My darling brother."
Luca froze.
Slowly, he lowered his gun and reached for the light switch.
The room lit up, and standing by the window was a familiar face.
Luca's voice dropped into a whisper.
"Luciano.”
- Writer
