Luca's POV
The SUV's headlights flooded the alley, but I didn't move. I couldn't move. It was like I was frozen in place, watching her slip away.
I stood there, watching Emilia's taillights disappear into the night. Watched as the sedan turned a corner. Then another. Then nothing.
Poof! She was gone.
It was fucking unnatural. Putting another's need above mine.
But she needed that escape. I had to give it to her.
The SUV stopped behind me. Arm thugs rushed out with guns aimed solely at me.
"We've been looking for you. Enzo Marchetti is going to have gutting you for sticking your cock where it doesn't belong. Take him!"
I recognized the voice. Marcus Marchetti. Didn't care for it. Emilia ran because they chased her.
"Funny, last time I saw you, you was a weak little thing, Marcus. Good to know you grew a back bone"
"Last warning! Turn the fuck around or I will put one in your back!" Marcus took a step forward.
He was doing it wrong. You don't ask twice. You just shoot.
I raised my hand to my head and turned around slowly. Saw the exact moment recognition hit him and he took two steps back.
"It's...you" He stammered in shock.
I took my hands down.
"Hello Marcus. Where is Salvatore?"
We were interrupted when a black car screamed into the alley, skidding to a stop inches from the SUV's bumper, conveniently blocking them.
The door opened and Teddy unfolded himself from the driver's seat—all six-foot-something of muscle and loyalty. Dude was a giant... literally.
Behind him, Magnolia stepped out in a red dress that probably cost more than she was allowed to spend on a dress. She looked like she'd just left a party. Hell, it looked like she'd started a fight on the way out.
They walked up and stood behind me, flanking like bodyguards in an action movie.
Teddy on my right. Magnolia on my left. Both staring at the empty road where Emilia had been.
"Boss," Teddy said.
"Vincenzo," Magnolia touched my arm, calling me by my given name.
I didn't turn around. "Luca." I corrected.
VincEnzo Marchetti died a long time ago. My name was Luca Darhk.
"Right." She shrugged. "Sorry, Luca."
We stood there for a long moment, the three of us watching nothing.
Men started to spilled out of the SUV behind us—Marchetti soldiers, my father's men, here to clean up whatever mess they thought needed cleaning. But one person was missing.
Salvatore Marchetti.
Marcus Marchetti stepped forward, scanning the empty street. "Go after her," he ordered his men. "Find the Conti girl—"
"Stand down."
The words came out quiet. Flat like I was giving orders to a computer.
I could be away for a day or ten years, they were still expected to follow my orders without questions.
The men froze, looking between Marcus and me.
Marcus's jaw tightened. "Nephew—"
"Luca." I finally turned to face him. I wanted no connection to him or the rest of them "And I said stand down."
He didn't like it. But he nodded. Because in this city, my word meant more than his. Always had. Always would.
One of his men—some idiot with more ambition than sense—opened his mouth. "Vincenzo, are you sure? The old man said—"
Magnolia shot him in the leg.
The sound of the gun echoed off the alley walls. The man screamed, clutching his thigh, blood seeping through his fingers as he crumpled to the ground.
"He doesn't fucking like it when you call him Vincenzo!" Magnolia's voice rang out, sweet and furious. "His name is Luca!"
"Jesus, Teddy!" I grabbed the gun from her hand, prying it out of her fingers. "Who gave Magnolia a fucking gun?!"
Teddy shrugged his massive shoulders. "She said please."
"It's true. I did." Magnolia beamed as I tucked the gun into my waistband. "It's your fault. You said you didn't like being called Vincenzo."
"He wasn't here when I said that."
She made an Oopsie face—lips puckered, eyes wide with regret. "Oh. Sorry" She waved at her victim. "Just walk it off."
I stared at her. Walk it off. Like a gunshot wound was a stubbed toe. I opened my mouth to explain to her that it was not how bullets worked, but headlights swept into the alley and I forgot everything.
A black sedan pulled up. Slower than the SUV. More deliberate.
Salvatore Marchetti stepped out. Good. The man I wanted to see.
He looked at me like I was garbage someone had forgotten to take out. Like my presence in his alley was an inconvenience, a stain on his otherwise perfect evening.
"You're here," he said offhandedly, straightening his jacket. "The old man doesn't know you're in the city, nephew."
"The old man can suck my fucking cock."
Salvatore's eye twitched. Good.
I stepped closer. Teddy and Magnolia moved with me.
"I have more important questions to ask you, Salvatore Marchetti." I let his name sit in the air between us like poison. "Did you put your hands on Emilia Conti?"
His face twisted. "That whore shot me! First she whores herself out to a complete stranger, then she shoots me. All I did was grab her, Vincenzo."
"Luca." I took another step. He didn't back up, but I saw it—the flicker in his eyes. Fear hiding behind bravado. "Was that all you did, Uncle Sal?"
"Yes!" He spat it like a challenge. "I just grabbed her. To teach her a lesson for running her mouth and shooting me in the fucking arm. She did real damage."
I pulled out the gun—Magnolia's gun—and wiped my lips with my sleeve. Didn't point it at him. Just held it. Let him see it.
"Funny." My voice dropped. "Because I know what a sick bastard you are, Uncle Sal. Taking women without their permission. Running to hide under your brother's skirt when their fathers come for your head."
I pointed the gun down. Aimed at the ground. Aimed at nothing.
"So I'm going to ask you again, Uncle Sal." My voice rose "What the FUCK did you do to my girl?"
"He didn't go too far, Luca."
Marcus's voice. Stepping forward, playing peacemaker, protecting his brother like always.
"Tell him, Sal. You only grabbed her chest."
I looked at Salvatore. "He did, huh?"
Salvatore nodded quickly. "Yes. That's all. Just—just her chest. No biggie"
"Well." I turned to Teddy. "That's not too bad, right?"
Teddy grunted. It wasn't a happy grunt.
I looked back at Salvatore. "Teddy doesn't agree, apparently. And I believe you, Uncle Sal, but we have to convince the giant." I tilted my head toward Teddy. "Will a demonstration help you understand that it's not a big deal, Teddy?"
Teddy nodded. Stepped forward. Smiled.
"Perfect." I gestured at Salvatore. "Show us how you grabbed a hundred-and-ten-pound girl hard enough to leave a bruise. Leave no details. Use a visual aid."
Salvatore's face went pale. "I'm second in command. You can't—"
"Not with him in the city." Magnolia giggled, delighted. "Tell him, Luca. You're the fucking heir." She bounced on her heels. "Can I shoot him?"
"No, sweetheart. We talked about this. You promised to work on your impulse control."
I kissed her hair—quick, automatic, the way you soothe a hyperactive puppy—and turned back to Salvatore.
"Go on. Pick a visual aid."
He looked around. His eyes landed on Magnolia.
I went cold. "Trust me. You don't want her. Pick someone else."
"They're all men!" he whined.
"Teddy's gay. He won't mind." I looked at Teddy. "Right?"
Teddy's smile widened. "I don't mind."