Chapter 5

The next morning, the air between Luca and Gianna is thick with tension. The truth has been laid bare, and neither of them knows how to move forward. Luca watches Gianna from across the room as she stands by the window, her gaze fixed on the city below. The morning sunlight catches her hair, and for a fleeting moment, she seems untouchable—out of reach from the world he's dragged her into.

He wants to speak, to explain further, but the words feel inadequate. How do you apologize for a life of lies, for the darkness that has always been there, lingering in the shadows?

Gianna, on the other hand, feels the weight of his silence pressing down on her. The betrayal is fresh, raw, and every time she looks at him, it hurts. She wants to scream, to demand answers, but there's a part of her that still wants to believe in the man she married.

But the truth is undeniable.

"How could you hide all of this from me?" she finally asks, her voice low and trembling with emotion. "How could you marry me knowing everything you were involved in?"

Luca's face hardens, but there's a flicker of vulnerability in his eyes. "I never wanted you to know this side of me, Gianna. I wanted to protect you from it. I thought I could keep you away from all of this, from the dangers, from the lies. But it's not that simple."

She turns to face him, her expression one of disbelief. "You thought you could keep me safe by lying to me? By marrying me and dragging me into your world without even telling me what I was walking into?"

Luca steps toward her, his eyes searching hers. "I was trying to protect you, Gianna. I swear, I was."

But Gianna can't shake the feeling that she's just another pawn in his game, a piece he's willing to sacrifice when the time comes. "From the very first moment we met, everything has been a lie," she says, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't even know who you are anymore, Luca."

Later that day, Gianna finds herself in the heart of the storm. Luca's world—the criminal empire he runs, the family that controls everything—is closing in on them. The tension is palpable as she accompanies him to a meeting with some of his most trusted allies.

The room is filled with powerful men, each one more dangerous than the last. They talk in low voices, exchanging information that Gianna doesn't understand, their words filled with coded language and half-truths.

Gianna stands at the back of the room, her heart racing. She doesn't belong here, in this world of power and violence. But she can't escape now. She's already too deep, and Luca has made it clear—there's no going back.

"Gianna," Luca's voice breaks through her thoughts. He turns to her, his expression more serious than she's ever seen it. "This is the life I've built. And it's the life you're now a part of. But I won't let it destroy you."

Gianna looks at him, searching for any trace of the man she once thought she knew. But all she sees is the shadow of the man he's become. "You've already destroyed me, Luca," she says, her voice barely audible. "I'm not the woman you married anymore. I don't even know who I am anymore."

Luca reaches for her hand, his grip firm but gentle. "I won't let you fall apart, Gianna. I'll protect you, no matter what."

But Gianna knows that protection comes at a price. And she isn't sure if she's willing to pay it.

That evening, as they leave the meeting, Gianna's phone buzzes. It's a message from an unknown number. She hesitates before reading it.

"I told you the truth, Gianna. Luca's not who he says he is. If you want to know more, come to the warehouse at midnight. I'll show you everything."

Gianna's heart pounds as she reads the message. Antonio Ricci. The man who had warned her about Luca's past. Part of her wants to ignore the message, to walk away from this dangerous game. But the other part—the part of her that wants the truth, that wants to understand everything—can't resist the temptation.

Luca, noticing the tension in her posture, turns to her. "What's wrong?"

Gianna looks up at him, her voice steady. "Nothing. Just… thinking."

Luca doesn't look convinced, but he doesn't press her further. He's too consumed by the war that's brewing between him and his rivals.

But as the night falls and the clock ticks toward midnight, Gianna knows she has a choice to make. The truth lies in the shadows, and if she wants to uncover it, she'll have to step into that darkness—whether she's ready for it or not.

Gianna stands in front of the warehouse, her heart pounding in her chest. She doesn't know what to expect—what secrets Antonio will reveal or what dangers lie ahead. But she knows one thing for sure: her life will never be the same again.

As she pushes open the creaking door, the darkness inside seems to swallow her whole.