Shadows of the Past

Luca's grip tightened around the phone as the screen went black.

Elena's face had gone pale, her breathing shallow. She wasn't just scared—she was remembering.

"Who was that?" Dante asked, his voice low.

Elena's lips parted, but no words came out.

Luca turned to her, his pulse hammering. "Elena. Talk to me."

She closed her eyes for a moment, inhaling deeply before whispering, "I know that voice."

Luca and Dante exchanged a glance.

"Who?" Luca pressed.

She swallowed hard. "Before I met you… there was someone. Someone dangerous."

Luca's entire body went rigid.

Elena's hands clenched into fists. "His name is Adrian Vega."

Luca's blood turned to ice.

Adrian Vega. A name he hadn't heard in years, but one that still carried weight in the underworld.

A ghost from the past. A man as ruthless as he was untouchable.

Dante exhaled sharply. "Shit."

Luca's jaw locked. "Why is he coming after you now?"

Elena hesitated, her eyes flickering with something between guilt and fear.

"I—" she started. Then, barely above a whisper, "Because I betrayed him."

Silence.

Luca's heartbeat thundered. "Explain."

Elena ran a hand through her hair, looking away. "A long time ago, I worked for Adrian. Not by choice. I was trapped. He—he owned me."

Luca's fingers twitched, rage simmering beneath his skin.

"I saw things, Luca. Things I wasn't supposed to see. And when I got the chance, I ran. I thought I had buried that part of my life." She let out a bitter laugh. "But Adrian Vega doesn't forget. And he sure as hell doesn't forgive."

Luca's mind raced.

This wasn't just a threat.

This was personal.

"Elena," he said, his voice deadly calm. "What does he want?"

Her eyes met his, filled with something raw and unspoken.

"He wants me."

A sharp, cold silence filled the room.

Luca's hands curled into fists. "Over my dead body."

Dante nodded. "And mine."

But Elena shook her head. "You don't understand. Adrian doesn't just come for people." Her voice was tight with panic. "He takes everything. And if you try to stop him—"

Luca grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him.

"He's not taking you," he said, his voice low, dangerous. "I don't care who he is or what he's done. He doesn't get to touch you."

Elena searched his face, something shifting in her expression. "Luca…"

"Let him come," Luca whispered, a lethal promise in his voice.

He had already fought hell for her.

He would burn the whole world down if he had to.

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Next Chapter: The Devil's Move—Adrian Vega makes his first move, and Luca is forced to confront just how far he's willing to go to protect the woman he loves.