MATTHEO'S POV
The drive home was heavy. Mia barely spoke, her head leaned against the car window, her body fragile like a doll about to break. When Mattheo carried her into his house, he felt how light she had become—as if Luca had drained her of life itself.
He laid her gently on the bed, covering her with the sheets. Her breaths came soft, uneven, but within minutes she fell asleep, her lashes still damp from tears.
Mattheo stared at her for a moment—at the bruises on her wrists, the red raw skin on her ankle where the chain had rubbed her, and the fading mark on her lip. His chest burned with anger. She looks more dead than alive. What the fuck have you done, Luca?
He stepped out quietly, pulling his phone from his pocket. His fingers tightened around it before he pressed call.
The line rang twice before Luca picked up.
"Why the hell are you calling me?" Luca's voice was sharp, irritated, like Mattheo had already offended him.
Mattheo's temper snapped. "Luca, what the fuck is wrong with you? Why didn't you tell me I was bringing a corpse home? What did you do to her?"
A silence. Then Luca's cold reply: "What I do to her is none of your business. Your business is to keep her safe and make sure she doesn't run." His voice carried pure authority, like a command no one was allowed to question.
Mattheo's voice rose. "Safe? She looks like she's dying! I get it, you're wicked, but Mia has nothing to do with your world. She's just a girl, Luca! Just a girl who never wanted any of this. You dragged her into your darkness—"
He stopped, his anger boiling into words he never thought he'd throw at his brother. "You're a fucking bastard. What the hell do you want from an immature girl? She's barely even an adult. She's just like our sister—the one you're avenging—and you—"
"Mattheo!" Luca's voice thundered through the speaker, cutting him off. "Don't get me fucking pissed. I don't want to hear shit about that again."
Mattheo's chest rose and fell hard. He wanted to curse again, to scream, but he forced himself to change the topic. "Where are you?"
Finally, Luca smirked on the other end, his tone shifting. "Now you're beginning to talk like my brother." A pause, then, "I'm in Mexico. And right now, I'm getting pissed because of you. So be a good motherfucker and get the fuck off my phone."
The line went dead.
Mattheo lowered the phone slowly, his jaw tight. He wanted to smash it against the wall. But instead, he turned back toward Mia's room, anger and pity twisting together in his chest.
LUCA'S POV
Luca dropped his phone onto the table, rage still flickering in his eyes. He dragged deeply on a cigarette, exhaling smoke into the air.
"Who the fuck does he think he is?" he muttered, his teeth clenched.
The door opened and Mike stepped in, bowing his head. "Boss."
"What is it?" Luca asked, cold.
"I heard Vincenzo Moretti is in Mexico," Mike said carefully.
A slow, dangerous smile curved across Luca's lips. He lit his cigarette again, the flame sparking in his eyes. "Really? That bastard's still alive? He's indeed a snake." He leaned back in his chair, smirking. "Where is he?"
"Sombras del Norte… Shadows of the North," Mike answered.
Luca chuckled darkly, smoke spilling from his mouth. "This is going to be fun."
MIA'S POV
The soft drip of an IV pulled Mia from sleep. Her eyes fluttered open, weak and confused. For a second she panicked, but then she saw the clean room, the sheets around her. Not the mansion. Not the chains.
The door creaked open, and Mattheo entered with a tray of food. Relief washed through her chest.
"You're finally awake, sleepyhead," he said, forcing a small smile as he walked toward her.
"Thank you," she whispered, her throat dry.
"Don't thank me now," he replied, setting the tray on the bed. "Thank me when you're fully recovered."
Despite herself, Mia smiled faintly. "You're… really kind."
"And you're so lovely," Mattheo said softly.
Heat touched her cheeks—she blushed. For once, no harsh words, no cruel grip, no chain dragging behind her.
He placed the food in her lap. "Eat up, dear. You need your strength."
She nodded and began slowly. "It's yummy."
Mattheo smiled. "Good. Eat as much as you can."
When she finished, Mia leaned back, a shadow creeping over her. "Thank you for the meal… I promise, when I recover, I'll help around the house… that is, if Luca doesn't… take me away." Her voice cracked with fear.
Mattheo crouched to meet her eyes. "Forget about him. He'll be gone for a while. Just… adjust here, understand?"
Mia nodded. His words didn't erase her fear, but they gave her a thread of comfort.
He patted her head gently. "Rest well, dear." And with that, he left the room.
For the first time in weeks, she felt human again.
Hours later, the door opened again. Mia looked up, expecting Mattheo—only to freeze.
Viet.
Her body trembled instantly, memories of his cruelty cutting into her.
Viet raised both hands slowly, surrender in his eyes. "I'm not here to hurt you. I know what I did before… but I swear, I'll never do it again." His voice was raw, almost broken.
"I… I don't believe you. How are you here?" Mia asked, clutching the blanket tighter.
"I'm staying with my big brother now. And trust me… I'm a good person now." Viet's eyes lowered with shame.
He didn't dare step closer. Instead, he sank down to his knees, surprising her.
"I'm sorry, Mia. I shouldn't have done those things to you. I deserved everything Luca did to me. I wanted to apologize long ago, but he never let me."
Mia's eyes fell to the bruises on Viet's body, then froze on his hand. One finger was gone—cut clean off. Her heart twisted with shock.
"Did… did it hurt?" she asked quietly.
Viet quickly hid his hand behind his back. "I'm fine. Just a minor injury."
But she knew it wasn't. Luca was too cruel. If he could mutilate his own brother, what more could he do to her?
"I'm sorry, Mia," Viet whispered again, eyes wet. "Please… give me another chance to prove myself."
Mia stuttered, fear choking her voice. "I… I…"
He didn't push. He only sighed, standing up slowly. "It's fine. I'll wait. I'll prove myself." His shoulders slumped as he walked out, leaving her confused, scared, and strangely touched by his brokenness.
LUCA'S POV – SOMBRAS DEL NORTE
The smoky bar was alive with gambling, women laughing, and men shouting over their cards. Luca walked in with his men, his presence slicing the air into silence.
At a corner table, Vincenzo Moretti froze mid-drink, his face draining of color when he saw him.
Luca's lips curved into a predator's smile. He walked over slowly, each step echoing. "Guess who got caught."
"Lu… Luca…" Vincenzo stammered, standing too quickly. "It's not what you think—I'm not your enemy—"
"Spare me the bullshit," Luca snapped, grabbing him by the collar and slamming him to the floor. Chaos erupted—tables overturning, men backing away, women screaming.
Luca stood over him, gun in hand, eyes blazing. "Tell me his name, and maybe I'll let you live."
"I-I don't know what you're talking about!" Vincenzo crawled backward, fear making his voice crack.
Luca pressed the barrel of his gun to Vincenzo's forehead. "I'll enjoy pulling the trigger and watching your skull explode." His laugh was sharp, unhinged, enough to make even his men shiver.
Vincenzo's lips shook. "Why waste me? I can give you something. I've heard a name… always hidden, always in the shadows. They call him El Lobo. The Wolf. He's the trafficker who bought your sister. He… he used her organs to save his son."
Luca's whole body went rigid. His rage boiled to the surface, every vein in his neck straining. "That… bastard."
Vincenzo coughed, desperate. "I told you—I'm not your enemy. But watch your own men. There are snakes among them." He laughed weakly, the sound edged with madness.
That was enough. Luca's fist cracked against Vincenzo's face, knocking him unconscious on the floor.
He turned to his men, eyes burning. They stepped back, fear trembling in their bones.
"I don't want cowards in my world!" Luca roared.
"YES, SIR!" they shouted in unison, their voices shaking the bar walls.