Chapter 10

The sound of footsteps echoes through the abandoned warehouse, sharp and menacing, growing closer with every passing second. Luca's grip on Gianna tightens, and she feels his muscles tense beneath her fingertips. He's ready to fight, but the fear in his eyes is undeniable—this isn't just another gang war, another bloody battle for dominance. This time, everything is on the line.

Gianna takes a deep breath, steadying herself. She can't afford to let fear control her now. Not when their future, their lives, are at stake. She looks up at Luca, her gaze meeting his with a silent promise—no matter what happens, they'll face it together.

The door creaks open, and two armed men step inside, their cold eyes scanning the room. The tension is thick enough to cut through, but neither of them makes a move. The standoff is a delicate balance, and for a moment, it seems as if the world itself has come to a halt.

Then, from the shadows, a familiar voice rings out.

"Looking for someone?"

Gianna's blood runs cold as Moretti steps into view, his dark suit impeccably tailored, his expression one of smug satisfaction. He steps forward with deliberate, almost leisurely steps, his cold eyes locking onto Luca with a predator's gaze.

"You're a hard man to find, Luca," Moretti says, his voice low, laced with mockery. "I've been looking everywhere for you."

Luca stands his ground, his face a mask of defiance. "And yet, here I am. But you should know something, Salvatore." He steps forward, his body radiating authority. "You came here for the wrong reasons."

Moretti chuckles darkly, his hand resting on the gun at his side. "Oh, I think you'll find I've come for exactly what I want." His gaze shifts to Gianna, and a wicked grin spreads across his face. "I've always been interested in what's mine."

Gianna's pulse quickens at the way Moretti looks at her—like she's an object, a pawn in a game he's been playing for too long. But the fire in Luca's eyes tells her that this time, it's different. He won't let anyone take her, not without a fight.

"I'm not yours, Salvatore," Gianna says, her voice steady despite the fear swirling inside her. "And I'm not going anywhere with you."

Moretti's grin falters for a moment, replaced by a cold, calculating look. "You don't have a choice, sweetheart. You're already in my world, whether you like it or not."

Before Gianna can respond, Luca moves, swift and ruthless. He steps between her and Moretti, his posture rigid, his eyes locked on the man who's been hunting him for so long.

"I'm done running," Luca growls, his voice like gravel. "And I'm done letting you control anything. You've pushed me too far, Moretti."

Moretti's smirk never fades, even as the tension in the room escalates. "We'll see how far you can push, Luca. You're not the only one with power here."

The next moments unfold like a blur of motion, the air charged with the electric tension of imminent violence. Moretti's men move to surround them, weapons drawn, their eyes hard with intent. But Luca is faster, his reflexes honed by years in the underground world of mafia politics. He's not just fighting for survival—he's fighting for Gianna, for the life he's trying to build away from the shadows.

The first shot rings out, and chaos erupts.

Luca takes down one of Moretti's men with a swift move, disarming him with brutal precision. Gianna's heart races as she watches the violence unfold before her. Her instincts scream for her to hide, to run, but she forces herself to stay still, to trust Luca.

"Get down!" Luca yells, grabbing her by the arm and pulling her behind a stack of crates as bullets fly. She obeys, her heart pounding in her chest as the world around her explodes into chaos. The sounds of gunfire echo in her ears, but all she can focus on is Luca—his strength, his resolve, and the desperate need to keep her safe.

In the heat of the moment, with the world falling apart around her, Gianna has a flash of clarity. This isn't just about survival. This is about the life Luca has dragged her into—a life of bloodshed, danger, and betrayal. The question she's been avoiding, the question she's been too afraid to face, becomes impossible to ignore.

Does she want to stay in this world?

The answer comes to her in a rush, clear and undeniable. She loves Luca. She always has. But love isn't enough to survive in a world this dangerous. She's seen it firsthand, felt the weight of every decision, every lie, every betrayal. And she can't pretend anymore that it doesn't matter.

She looks at Luca, his eyes fierce as he takes down another of Moretti's men, and something inside her breaks. She's in too deep, but so is he.

Just as they start to gain the upper hand, a new voice cuts through the air, one that freezes Gianna in place.

"Luca, no!"

Gianna's heart skips a beat as she turns to see a figure emerge from the shadows. It's Marco—Luca's brother. But he's not here to help.

Marco's eyes are cold, his stance aggressive as he points a gun directly at Luca. "You think you can just walk away from this?" he sneers. "You're a fool, Luca. You don't get to leave the family. Not now, not ever."

Luca's eyes widen for a fraction of a second, disbelief flashing across his face. "Marco, what the hell are you doing?"

Marco laughs bitterly. "I'm doing what I have to do. You've betrayed us all, Luca. Now, you're going to pay."

The tension in the room thickens, the betrayal sinking in deeper than any wound could. Gianna's breath catches in her throat. She never thought Luca's own brother would turn on him, but here it is—his loyalty to the family outweighing everything else, even blood.

With the gun trained on Luca, the situation spirals further into danger. Moretti watches the standoff unfold with a twisted smile, enjoying the chaos he's orchestrated. Gianna knows this is the moment where everything changes. Luca's life, their future, hangs in the balance.

She glances at Luca, his face set in stone, but she can see the conflict in his eyes. The man he once was, the brother he once trusted, is now the very person he must face down.

And in that split second, she knows what she has to do. She has to make a choice.

Does she stand by Luca, risk everything to protect him, or does she walk away, knowing that the life he's chosen is one she can never truly be a part of?

The weight of the decision presses down on her as Moretti's men close in, the clock ticking toward an uncertain end.