Page 16 of Ruined By Blood
The room feels too small, the air too thin. "He'll come for me. He doesn't let his property escape."
Lucrezia's expression hardens. "You're not property."
My laugh comes out bitter. "Tell that to him. Tell that to Cortez who—" I stop abruptly, realizing I've said too much.
Pain flickers across Lucrezia's face—not pity, but recognition. She stands suddenly.
"I should let you rest. You're still healing." Her voice has gone tight, controlled. "I'm sorry I upset you."
I shake my head. "You didn't. It's just complicated."
"Complicated," she repeats, a distant look in her eyes. "Yeah, I understand complicated."
She moves toward the door, then hesitates. "For what it's worth, my brother has never lost a fight. And my otherbrother, Damiano? He runs half of this city. If anyone can keep you safe from Henry Sterling, it's the Ferettis."
"Why would they bother?" I ask, genuinely confused.
Lucrezia's hand rests on the doorknob. "Because that's what we do for people who need protection." Her smile is sad.
She slips out, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the terrifying possibility that for the first time in years, I might actually be safe.
For now.
CHAPTER 7
Ihear a knock on my door, gentle but persistent. When I open it, Lucrezia stands there, her eyes showing more life than I've seen in months. The conversation with Sienna must have drawn her out of herself, even temporarily.
"Come in," I say, stepping back to give her space.
She moves into my room, settling into the chair by the window where we've had countless conversations before.
"How did it go?" I ask, leaning against my desk.
"She's terrified, Enzo." Lucrezia looks up, her eyes dark with concern. "Not just scared—completely terrified. Of her father especially."
"What did she tell you?"
"Henry Sterling sells women." Lucrezia's voice hardens. "And from what she implied, he was planning to sell her too—to someone named Cortez."
The name registers immediately. Carlos Cortez, Mexican cartel connection. Not the man who took her from the bar. Known for his particularly brutal treatment of women. My jaw clenches, rage building like a thunderstorm.
"She referred to herself as her father's property," Lucrezia continues, disgust evident in her tone. "Like she's not even a person to him."
"Did she say anything about who beat her?"
Lucrezia shakes her head. "She shut down when I pushed too hard. But Enzo—" She leans forward, intent in her expression. "We need to be careful. We need to be sure before taking any action."
"Sure of what?" I ask, though I already suspect what she means.
"Sure of exactly what's happening. Who's involved. What she needs." Lucrezia's eyes meet mine, serious and focused. "We can't just assume we know what's best based on pieces of information. We need her to trust us enough to tell us everything."
She's right, and I hate it. Every instinct screams to hunt down Sterling and Cortez immediately, to eliminate the threat. But acting on partial information could make things worse for Sienna.
"You're right," I admit. "We need her to trust us first."
"She won't just open up because we demand answers," Lucrezia says softly. "Trust has to be earned, especially for someone who's been hurt like she has."
Lucrezia shifts in her chair, a hint of her old confidence returning. "I'm going to invite her to have breakfast with us tomorrow morning."
