Page 56 of Forsaken Promises

I swallow hard. “That's not true. Dom is a good man, a kind man. He would never hurt me.”

He may have before, but he’s changed. He’s told me he’s sorry. That has to mean something, right? Besides, he knows better than to hurt me, of all people. I may not have told my parents how he broke my heart the first time, but I would certainly unleash my father’s men on Dom if he tried to hurt me again.

Luca laughs, a harsh, grating sound that makes me flinch. “Oh, Sofia. You’re so innocent, so trusting. Don't you see? That's exactly what makes you vulnerable. What makes you a target.”

He takes a step closer, his dark eyes boring into mine with an intensity that steals my breath. “People who are close to the Sicura Family… they tend to end up dead. Sooner or later, one way or another. And if you're not careful, that could be your fate too.”

As Luca’s words hang in the air between us, I feel a flicker of annoyance rather than fear. Does he really think he can intimidate me with vague threats and ominous warnings? I’m the daughter of one of the most feared Mafia Dons in the city. I know better than anyone the risks and realities of this life.

I cross my arms, leveling Luca with a cool, assessing gaze. “Are you trying to scare me?” I ask, my voice steady and unimpressed. “Because if you are, it’s not working.”

Luca chuckles, a low, dark sound that sends a shiver down my spine despite myself. “Scare you? No, Sofia. I’m trying to warn you. To make you see the truth about the family you’ve married into.”

I scoff, shaking my head. “The truth? And what truth is that, exactly? That people who get close to the Sicuras sometimes end up dead? News flash, Luca—that’s part of our world. It comes with the territory.”

He takes a step closer, his eyes glinting with something I can’t quite read. “But it doesn’t have to be your world, Sofia. You have a choice. You could walk away from all of this, start a new life somewhere far away from the violence and the bloodshed."

I feel a flare of anger at his presumption, at the way he’s talking to me like I’m some naive little girl who doesn’t understand the game we’re all playing. “And go where? Do what? Leave my family, my husband, everything I’ve ever known? For what, a chance at a so-called normal life?”

I shake my head, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. “You don’t get it, do you? This is my life, Luca. For better or worse, in sickness and in health. I made a vow to Dom, to our families. And I intend to keep it.”

Luca sighs, a look of something like pity crossing his face. “I admire your loyalty, Sofia. Really, I do. But you’re making a mistake. The Sicuras… they’ll chew you up and spit you out. And by the time you realize it, it’ll be too late.”

I bristle at his tone, at the way he's talking about my husband and his family like they’re some kind of monsters. “You don't know Dom,” I snap, my voice cold and cutting. “You don’t know anything about our relationship, our love. And frankly, it’s none of your business.”

He holds up his hands in a gesture of mock surrender, a wry smile tugging at his lips. “You’re right, it’s not. But don’t say I didn’t warn you, Sofia. When the time comes that you need help, that you want out… you know where to find me.”

With that, he turns and walks away, melting into the crowded street like a shadow. I’m left standing there, my heart pounding and my fists clenched at my sides.

How dare he? How dare he try to plant seeds of doubt in my mind, to make me question the life I’ve grown up in and my husband? I know the risks of this world, the dangers that come with the SicuraandMarino names.

I also know Dom, how devoted he is to me and how much he’s trying to show me that he’s changed.

And I won’t let anyone, least of all Luca, try to convince me otherwise.

I take a deep breath, squaring my shoulders as I turn back toward the car. No matter what challenges or threats may come our way, I know that Dom and I can face them together.

As I settle into the back of the car, my mind is still reeling from the encounter with Luca. His words, his thinly veiled threats and warnings, echo in my head like a haunting melody I can’t quite shake.

What is his deal? Why does he seem to hate the Sicuras, and Dom in particular, with such a burning intensity? It's clear that there’s a history there, bad blood that runs deep.

I try to think back to when Dom and I were teenagers. I don’t remember his ever mentioning Luca, ever hinting at a rivalry or a grudge that might explain the animosity between them.

But then again, would he have told me?

Maybe something happened after we broke up, some falling out or betrayal that turned Luca from a friend to an enemy. Or maybe the seeds of their hatred were always there, buried beneath the surface and waiting for the right moment to sprout.

I sigh, leaning my head back against the cool leather seat. It’s all speculation, a guessing game that I’m not sure I want to play. Because the truth is, there’s still so much I don’t know about Dom, about the man he was before we were forced together again.

And as much as I want to trust him, to believe in the love and the future we’re building together… I can’t deny the flicker of unease that Luca’s words have sparked in my gut.

The nagging sense that there are secrets and shadows lurking beneath the surface of our marriage, waiting to drag us under.

But I won’t let that fear consume me, won’t let it poison the fragile new beginning we’ve fought so hard for. I love Dom, and I choose to believe in him, in us. No matter what skeletons may be hiding in his closet, no matter what demons may be haunting his past.

As the car pulls up to the Sicura estate, I feel a sense of resolve settling over me. I know what I have to do, the questions I need to ask.

I need to talk to Dom about Luca, need to understand the history between them, the root of the hatred and animosity that seems to run so deep.

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