A New Beginning

The morning air smelled of salt and fresh beginnings. The city was nothing but a distant memory now, replaced by endless blue skies and rolling waves that crashed against the shore.

Luca stood barefoot on the balcony of their villa, the warm breeze tousling his dark hair as he sipped his coffee. It had been weeks since they left. No more shadows of the past chasing them. No more bloodstained streets. Just him and Evelyn.

The sound of soft footsteps behind him made him turn.

Evelyn, wrapped in nothing but his shirt, stepped onto the balcony, rubbing sleep from her eyes.

"You're up early," she murmured, her voice still laced with sleep.

Luca set his coffee down and reached for her, pulling her against his chest. "Couldn't sleep."

She tilted her head up, searching his face. "Do you regret leaving?"

Luca brushed a strand of hair from her face. "Not for a second."

Evelyn exhaled slowly, resting her cheek against his chest. "I think I'm still getting used to it. The quiet."

He understood.

For so long, their lives had been filled with chaos—gunfire, betrayals, survival. Now, they had nothing but peace.

And peace could be terrifying.

But as Luca ran his hands down her back, feeling her warmth, he realized that this was what he had fought for.

Not just survival.

Not just revenge.

But this—her.

The life they could build together.

Evelyn looked up at him, a soft smile playing on her lips. "We should go somewhere today. Explore."

Luca smirked. "And where exactly do you want to go?"

She shrugged. "Somewhere new. Somewhere we don't have to look over our shoulders."

Luca cupped her face, pressing a slow, lingering kiss against her lips. "Anywhere you want."

Because no matter where they went, as long as she was with him—he was home.

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Next Chapter: A Love Worth Keeping