Page 37 of Devil's Embrace
"You have fire.You'll need it."He turned away, moving to the door with fluid grace."Pack nothing.I'll send someone for Mina's things later.We leave in five minutes."
I grabbed his arm, forcing him to face me again."You didn't answer my question."
Luca looked down at my hand on his sleeve, then back to my eyes.His voice, when he spoke, was soft and deadly serious."I killed my uncle for threatening you.What do you think my answer is?"
The letter opener suddenly felt tiny in my hand.
I followed Luca through the winding corridors of the mansion, the letter opener still clutched in my palm.He moved with predatory grace, his broad shoulders tense beneath his tailored jacket.Guards nodded respectfully as we passed, but their gazes betrayed uncertainty—they'd heard the whispers too.The Moretti empire stood on shifting sand, and my daughter had somehow become the focal point of a power struggle she couldn't understand.
Mina walked between us, her small hand held securely in mine.Luca had insisted she come with us rather than remain in the room, and for once, I agreed with him completely.I wasn't letting her out of my sight.
"Where's Maria taking my unicorn book?"Mina glanced back at the maid who carried her few belongings.
"She's putting it somewhere safe, sweet pea."I squeezed her hand reassuringly."We'll get it later."
Luca led us to his study—the same room where we'd first...No, I pushed that memory aside.This wasn't the time for complicated feelings.This was about survival.The study looked different in daylight, less intimidating but no less imposing.
"Wait here."Luca moved to his desk and lifted the phone.He barked orders into it, his voice hard and cold—the voice of a man used to being obeyed without question.
Mina tugged at my hand, her voice a worried whisper."Mama, why is Mr.Luca angry?"
I crouched down to her level, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear."He's not angry, sweet pea.He's just busy.Why don't you sit on that nice chair over there and count all the blue books you can see on the shelves?"
She nodded solemnly and moved to the leather armchair, her legs dangling above the floor as she began counting in a soft voice.
I straightened and turned to Luca, who had finished his call and was watching us with that unreadable expression.
"You're brushing this off."I moved closer to him."Acting like it's just another security issue."
His jaw tightened."Itisa security issue.One I'm handling."
"No.It's more than that."I stepped closer, refusing to be intimidated by his height or his power."Mateo may be dead, but his influence isn't.His men are coming for my daughter.To use her against you.That means some of your people still answer to a dead man."
"I'm aware of the complexity of the situation."His voice remained maddeningly calm.
"Are you?"I moved even closer, near enough to catch his scent—expensive cologne mingled with something uniquely him."You have to choose, Luca.Your family's twisted empire or the little girl who trusts you."
His eyes darkened at that, flicking briefly to Mina before returning to mine."You speak as if they're mutually exclusive."
"Aren't they?"I challenged."Mateo's men wouldn't be coming if some of your lieutenants weren't supporting them.Your house is divided, and my daughter is caught in the middle."
His fingers drummed against the edge of his desk, the only outward sign of his tension."What would you have me do?Abandon everything I've built?Everything I was raised to become?"
"I don't care about your empire.I care about Mina.She matters.Nothing else."
Something flickered in his eyes—respect, perhaps, or understanding."You think I don't know that?”
The question hung between us, unanswered.We both knew he hadn’t killed Mateo only for Mina.It wasn't just for me, either.It was more complicated than that—a twisted knot of loyalty, betrayal, desire, and power that neither of us fully understood.
"Thirty-seven!"Mina announced proudly from her chair."There are thirty-seven blue books, Mama!"
I forced a smile."Good counting, sweet pea."
Luca's expression softened fractionally as he looked at her."Very impressive.”He turned from her to look at me once more.“I made my choice the moment I kept you both alive after you witnessed my kill.Every decision since then has been in service of that choice."
Before I could respond, a harsh blaring sound cut through the air—alarms screeching through hidden speakers.Luca's head snapped up, his body instantly alert.
"They're earlier than expected."He moved swiftly to the far wall.
