Bloody Intentions { BL SLOWBURN }

One : Playing with fire

Luka scanned the cramped supply closet in the CEO’s office, his mouth curved in amusement as he was shoved deeper inside by an impatient five-foot nothing woman wearing a crisp business suit.

“Why are we hiding in here like fugitives?” He asked, wrinkling his nose at the faint scent of damp in the air.

Beside him, his best friend and aforementioned tiny CEO, made a shushing gesture as she pressed her ear to the door. Rolling his eyes, Luka flipped a bucket upside down and sat on it, watching her as she listened intently for a moment before letting out a relieved breath.

“Because what I’m about to tell you can’t be shared with anyone.” She stated.

“You could have just locked your office door.”

“We both know my dad’s got the office bugged.” Luka pursed his lips, since that was most likely true. “And he can’t know what I’m about to tell you.”

Luka leaned back on the bucket, arms crossed, his curiosity piqued. “Alright, what’s going on, Iz? You’ve been on edge all day.”

Isabella De Luca turned from the door, her usual sharp confidence muted, replaced by something Luka wasn’t used to seeing in her: uncertainty. She was dressed in her signature grey business pant-suit that usually gave her an air of no-nonsense authority. But tonight, something was different. The suit seemed to hang on her differently, or perhaps it was just how she carried herself, shoulders slumped, head lowered, that made her appear smaller, more vulnerable. She took a breath and walked over to him, wringing her hands together.

“I’m seeing someone.” She blurted.

Luka blinked. “Come again?”

“I’m seeing—”

“No, I heard that.” He interrupted. “You’re dating someone? Who?”

“Matteo.” Her voice lowered. “…Matteo Novak.”

“Matteo Novak? As in the Matteo of the Novak outfit?”

She nodded, looking at him with pleading eyes. Luka stood abruptly, the bucket clattering to the floor behind him.

“Are you out of your mind, Izzy? Your dad’s gonna—”

“I know what he’ll do.” She interrupted sharply. “That’s why I need your help.”

Luka froze, his jaw clenched as her words sank in. He didn’t like where this was going.

“If your dad finds out you’re with Matteo Novak, he’s not just gonna be pissed, he’ll have him killed. And you know if he gives that order—”

“You’ll be the one sent to do it. I know.” She finished, her voice cracking slightly.

Luka didn’t respond right away. The truth hung between them, bitter and unspoken. He couldn’t disobey an order from her father, they both knew that. Even so much as knowing about this before he did could implicate him in her father’s wrath.

“Look, you know I’d never want to hurt you.” He said carefully. “But if your dad gives that call… I can’t refuse. I’ll have to kill him.”

Izzy stepped closer, her eyes a mixture of desperation and determination. “I’m not asking you to disobey him, Luka. I just need you to stall. Buy me time—enough time to talk him around, to explain everything.”

“And you think you can convince him?” He asked, incredulous. “You think your dad’s just going to sit down and listen when he finds out you’ve been seeing the son of one of his oldest enemies? Jesus Iz, when did this even start?”

“Almost six months ago.”

Luka massaged his aching temples. “And I didn’t even realise.”

“No one did!” She assured quickly. “We didn’t want anyone to know because we didn’t expect any of this to happen!”

“Then what did you think would happen if you started dating a Novak?”

Izzy sighed, leaning against the wall. “We didn’t plan on dating at all. It started as an itch, I guess. Matteo and I—at first, it was just something that happened when we ran into each other at a gala and got into our usual insulting match. You know how he's always got under my skin, but this time it felt different… I can’t explain it. We thought it would be a one-time thing to get it out of our systems.”

“You hate-f****d him.”

She looked away, a soft smile on her lips. “Yeah, I guess I did. But after that, we couldn’t stay away from each other. He gets me, Luka. He knows what it’s like to live this life, the pressure, the expectations. He understands me more than anyone else I’ve dated ever has.”

“And now you love him.” He said slowly.

She nodded, eyes shining. “Yes. And he loves me, for me. There’re no pretences between us, no having to hide our lives and what we really do. I know it’s messy and complicated, but… Matteo chose me. Over all the models, the celebrities, he chose me.”

Luka stared at her, the pride in her voice unmistakable. He had heard whispers about Matteo Novak giving up his playboy ways over the last few months, the speculations of a mystery woman who had tamed him running rampant, but no one seemed to know who she was. Hell, even Luka’s own men had tried to figure it out to use as leverage, but no one had so much as an inkling. But now he understood.

That mystery woman was standing right in front of him.

“You’re better than all of them anyway.” He sighed.

Izzy blinked, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “You really think so?”

“Of course. You’re one of a kind, Iz. If Matteo hadn’t have seen that, I’d have killed him without needing an order.”

Her smile grew a little wider and for a moment, the tension between them eased, but the reality of the situation settled back in just as quickly. Izzy’s father wasn’t going to care about love—he would see this as a betrayal.

“Are you sure you can convince him?” He asked quietly, pacing in the tight confines of the closet.

“I need to at least try. But if he orders you to… To go after Matteo, promise me you’ll stall. Give me time to fix this.”

“He could kill me if he found out.”

“I know.” She whispered, voice cracking. “I know I’m asking a lot, but you’re the only person I trust to do this. Please, Luka.”

He stopped pacing and faced her, taking in her familiar features. Her long, dark brown hair, usually styled in soft waves or pulled back in a sleek ponytail, now hung loose, framing her face and softening her usually sharp edges. Even her hazel eyes, which typically sparkled with determination and cleverness, seemed clouded with uncertainty, a depth of vulnerability Luka hadn’t seen before. Her complexion, warm and sun-kissed, appeared paler than usual, the fine line of her jaw, always set with resolve, now seemed softer, her lips pressed together in an anxious line rather than the confident smirk he’d grown so used to.

For the first time, Izzy didn’t look like the formidable force she always portrayed. She looked... human.

“You’re putting me in an impossible situation. You know that, right?”

She grabbed his arm, her grip tight. “Just promise you’ll give me time. Please.”

“...When are you telling him?”

“Tonight. After the meeting.”

Luka closed his eyes, trying to calm the storm of emotions roiling inside him. If this went south, it could spiral out of control faster than either of them could manage. His place in the gang had always been clear. He was under her father’s command, tied to a vow he had made years ago—one that was ironclad. Loyalty, discipline, obedience. They weren't just words; they were rules Luka had lived by, shaping his life for as long as he could remember. He had promised to obey her father without question, to carry out orders no matter the circumstances and up until now, that had never been a problem. His loyalty to Izzy was absolute, but this…

This was something else.

She wasn’t just his best friend; she was family, the one person who had always been by his side. They’d grown up together in this world of blood and violence, facing everything as a team. She trusted him implicitly and Luka had always done the same. He swallowed hard, his chest tight with the weight of the impossible choice he might have to make. Could he do it? Could he stand up to the man who had shaped his life, who had taken him under his wing and taught him everything he knew? The same man who held Luka’s life in his hands?

He wasn’t sure.

Defying a direct order wasn’t just a mistake, it was a death sentence. In their world, disloyalty was the ultimate sin and wasn’t something you could apologize for or take back. Once you crossed that line, there was no coming back from it. If he disobeyed, it wouldn’t just mean losing his position in the gang—it would mean losing everything. His place, his future, his life. Luka exhaled, forcing his eyes open. All he knew was that if things went wrong tonight, everything could change in an instant and if he was forced to choose between loyalty to her father or loyalty to Izzy…

He wasn’t sure which side he’d land on.

And that terrified him.

“Alright.” He said at last. “If it comes to it, i’ll give you time.”

She took a deep breath and stepped back, a flicker of hope crossing her face. “Thank you, Luka. You don’t know how much this means to me.”

“You’re playing with fire, you know that right?”

“If there’s a chance I can be with him, it’s worth it.”

Luka forced a tight smile, but the dread in his chest didn’t ease. He couldn’t shake the feeling that no matter how much time he bought her, things were about to go south—and fast. As she opened the door and slipped out of the closet, he stayed behind for a moment, leaning against the wall.

Tonight, everything could change and he wasn’t entirely sure whether he could live up to the faith she placed in him.