She was trapped.

The day started as any other, but beneath the surface, tension brewed. Lucas had been keeping an eye on the Russian don's movements, knowing that things would escalate soon. He was right. He didn't even have time to visit Bella in the morning because of an important meeting, but he did left her a message telling her to take care of herself.

By afternoon, Lucas received an urgent call from one of his men, the one he send to keep an eye on Renato, in case he decide to decieve him. "Boss, it's Renato. He's under attack." Lucas's expression darkened instantly. "Where?"

"A warehouse near the docks. He went there for a meeting, but it was a setup." Without hesitation, Lucas ordered his men to mobilize. Within minutes, he was on his way, the air inside his car thick with an impending sense of danger.

When they arrived, the place was in chaos. Gunshots echoed through the warehouse as Renato's men tried to hold off the ambush. Lucas spotted Renato behind a stack of crates, bleeding from a graze on his arm but still fighting.

"Cover him!" Lucas commanded as his men took positions. Bullets flew, the sharp sound of gunfire ringing in the air. It didn't take long for Lucas's men to overpower the attackers. The remaining enemies either fled or were taken down.

Lucas approached Renato, who was breathing heavily, gripping his arm. "You okay?" Renato scoffed. "Took you long enough. I really thought the man you have send to keep an eye on me was slacking off."

Lucas smirked but his eyes were serious. "This is getting out of hand. He's not just sending warnings anymore. He even tried to attack you in my territory."

Renato exhaled deeply, his expression shifting from frustration to something more troubled. "I know. There's something I need to tell you."

Back at Lucas's private residence, the tension in the air was different now. Renato sat on the couch, staring at his glass of whiskey, lost in thought. Lucas leaned against his desk, arms crossed, waiting.

Renato finally spoke. "I never told you everything, Lucas. I didn't just get on the Russian don's bad side because of business." He hesitated before continuing, "It's because of his wife."

Lucas's eyes narrowed. "His wife?" He already knows about it all but he wanted to hear his part of the story. Renato let out a bitter chuckle. "I had an affair with her."

Lucas's jaw clenched, his mind already racing. "You what?" Renato ran a hand through his hair, his frustration evident. "I didn't know who she was at first. Heck! I didn't even know she was married. But when I found out, I still didn't stop. She approached me first. We dated for a while before I got to know who she really was."

His voice softened. "When I got to know her real identity, it was just strategy. I thought I could use the affair to get information, just like he was using her to get close to me. But then… I fell for her and I'm sure she might have too. She never seduced me with her body, infact we never went past a kiss. She is pure, Lucas and I want to protect her, even if it cost my life.

Lucas's expression hardened, but he remained silent, letting Renato speak. "She was trapped, Lucas. That man treated her like a pawn, using her when he needed and ignoring her the rest of the time. He even dropped to such level where he forced his wife to do all this just for his own benefits."

"He didn't love her once from the beginning. She was lonely. And I....I just wanted her to feel loved. To know what it's like to be someone's priority."

Renato looked up, meeting Lucas's gaze. His eyes, usually filled with confidence, were now filled with raw emotion. "I know how this looks. I know it's reckless. But I love her. And I want to get her out of there. You don't have to worry because I have not told her any confidential thing and I will never do so."

Lucas sighed, rubbing his temple. "You think I might not know all this? I've known about this from sometime. This is dangerous, Renato. He's already attacking you, and if he finds out you want to take his wife from him, he won't stop until one of you is dead."

"I know," Renato admitted. "But I can't just leave her there. She started to trust me Lucas, even more than her husband whom she loved so much that she agreed to such demand. She herself told me her story and how she never wanted to have an affair at the first place until she was forced to prove her love for her husband."

Lucas was silent for a moment, considering his options. Finally, he spoke. "You'll stay here for now. It's not safe for you to be at your house. Also try not to go out frequently. All your things will be moved here and I will increase the security here."

Renato looked at him in surprise. "You're not going to tell me to give up?" Lucas exhaled. "I should. But I know you. Once you've made up your mind, nothing changes it. I'm pleased to hear that atleast you know what's right for you and you decided to tell me all the truth before anything get worse."

He met Renato's gaze. "We'll find a way to deal with this. But you're not doing anything stupid until we have a plan." Renato nodded, relief evident in his eyes. "Thank you, Lucas."

Lucas shook his head. "Don't thank me yet. This is just the beginning."