Chapter 38: Lines in the Sand

The estate was unusually quiet that morning, but beneath the surface, tension crackled like an impending storm. The air felt heavier, charged with something unspoken yet undeniable. Everyone in the house could sense it—something was brewing.

And Anna felt it too.

She stood by her window, arms wrapped around herself as she watched the sun rise over the sprawling grounds. Sleep had been fleeting, her mind restless from Luca's visit the night before. His words lingered, a warning she couldn't ignore.

"There's someone in this house who wants to hurt you."

Who?

And why?

She sighed, rubbing her temples. She had gotten herself tangled in something far bigger than she had ever imagined. And the worst part? She wasn't sure how to escape it.

A sharp knock at her door made her turn, her pulse quickening.

She hesitated before opening it, and the moment she did, she was met with Marco's intense gaze.

His expression was unreadable, but his eyes carried a weight that sent a shiver through her.

"We need to talk," he said, his voice low and serious.

Anna stepped aside, letting him in.

Marco walked inside, his movements controlled, but she could see the tension in his shoulders. The door clicked shut behind him, enclosing them in a space that suddenly felt much too small.

He turned to face her, eyes studying her closely. "I spoke to Luca last night."

Anna swallowed. "I know."

His jaw tightened. "Of course you do."

She didn't like the bitterness in his tone.

"What did he say?" she asked, even though she already had a feeling she knew the answer.

Marco let out a humorless chuckle, running a hand through his hair. "He reminded me where my loyalties lie."

A cold chill ran through her.

"Marco—"

"No," he interrupted, stepping closer. "I need you to understand something, Anna. Luca is dangerous when he feels threatened. And right now, that's exactly what he feels."

Her heart pounded. "You think he sees you as a threat?"

Marco scoffed. "Not just me. You."

Anna's breath caught.

Luca's possessiveness was undeniable, but she had never considered that it might put her at risk.

Marco exhaled, his jaw clenched in frustration. "You need to be careful around him, Anna."

Anna frowned, arms wrapping around herself. "Luca wouldn't hurt me."

Marco's gaze darkened. "Wouldn't he?"

She hesitated, searching Marco's face for answers.

He reached out then, his fingers brushing against her wrist, his touch gentle yet firm. "I just… I don't want to see you get caught in something you can't get out of."

Anna swallowed hard. She had seen this side of Marco before—the protector, the man who stood by those he cared about no matter the cost.

But Luca's presence loomed over them like a shadow, an unspoken force neither of them could ignore.

A tense silence stretched between them before Marco finally sighed, stepping back. "Just promise me you'll be careful."

Anna nodded slowly. "I will."

But even as she said it, she wasn't sure if she believed it herself.

---

Luca's Office – Later That Day

Luca sat behind his desk, fingers tapping rhythmically against the polished wood as Antonio placed a thick file in front of him.

"This is everything we have so far on the possible traitor," Antonio said, watching Luca's expression carefully.

Luca flipped open the folder, his sharp eyes scanning the information.

Then he stilled.

A name stood out among the details. A name he hadn't expected.

Antonio noticed his reaction. "What is it?"

Luca exhaled slowly, his fingers tightening around the file. His entire demeanor shifted, a deadly calm settling over him.

He closed the file with deliberate slowness and looked up at Antonio.

"Call Marco."

Antonio hesitated. "Luca—"

"Now."

Antonio studied him for a moment before nodding, then left the office without another word.

Luca sat back in his chair, staring at the closed folder in front of him.

If what he had just read was true…

Then everything was about to change.

Forever.

---

Anna's Room – That Night

Anna tossed and turned, unable to find peace. Her mind raced with everything Marco had said, everything Luca had implied.

The feeling of being watched hadn't left her all day.

She knew something was coming.

She just didn't know what.

Then, just as her eyes finally began to close, a soft knock at her door jolted her awake.

Her breath caught.

She sat up, staring at the door.

Her heartbeat drummed in her ears.

The knock came again—gentle, but insistent.

Anna swallowed, slipping out of bed. Every instinct in her body told her to be cautious.

She reached for the doorknob, hesitating.

"Who is it?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

A long pause.

Then—

"It's me."

Luca.

Anna exhaled, pressing her forehead against the cool wood of the door for a moment before finally unlocking it.

Luca stepped inside, his expression unreadable, his presence overwhelming the small space.

He shut the door behind him, the soft click echoing louder than it should have.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then, Luca reached out, his fingers grazing her chin as he lifted her face to look at him. His touch was gentle, almost too soft compared to the storm in his eyes.

"You need to trust me, Anna." His voice was low, intimate, but there was something else beneath it. Something unyielding.

Anna swallowed hard. "Luca, what's going on?"

His jaw tightened. "I told you before—there's someone in this house who wants to hurt you."

Her breath hitched. "Did you find out who?"

Luca's silence spoke volumes.

And suddenly, Anna knew.

This wasn't just about protecting her.

This was about control.

About loyalty.

And Luca intended to make sure she understood exactly where she stood in his world.