Luca’s fingers trembled as he punched in the numbers on his phone, his heart heavy with grief and rage. Finally, he heard Leo’s gruff voice on the other end.
“Luca, what’s going on?” Leo asked, his voice low and concerned.
Luca’s voice was thick with emotion. “It’s Martha,” he said, the words sticking in his throat. “Vito…he killed her.”
Leo’s response was swift and decisive.
“I’ll take care of it,” Leo said, his voice steady and reliable. “You and Sophia need to get somewhere safe. Let me handle Martha’s body.”
Luca nodded, his throat tight with emotion. “Thank you,” he said, his voice low and grateful. “And Leo…we need to take care of Vito.”
Leo’s response was swift and decisive. “Consider it done,” he said, his voice hard and determined.
Luca’s grip on the steering wheel tightened, his mind whirling with thoughts of revenge. He knew that he couldn’t let Vito get away with what he had done, not after all the pain he had caused.
“Where are we going?” Sophia asked, her voice small and worried.
Luca looked at her, his expression grave. “We’re going to ground,” he said, his voice low and determined. “We’ll lie low until Leo and the others have dealt with Vito.”
Sophia nodded, her eyes filled with sadness and fear. Luca pulled the car onto the highway, the city lights blurring into streaks of color as they sped away from the scene of Martha’s murder.
The silence stretched between them, broken only by the steady hum of the engine and the sound of Sophia’s quiet sobs. Luca’s eyes remained fixed on the road ahead, his jaw clenched with resolve.
Finally, Sophia spoke, her voice trembling. “What if he finds us?”
Luca’s expression hardened, his eyes blazing with determination. “He won’t,” he said, his voice low and fierce. “I’ll make sure of it.”
Sophia looked at him, her eyes wide and searching. “How?” she asked, her voice little more than a whisper.
Luca took a deep breath, his hands tightening on the wheel. “I’ll call in some favors,” he said, his voice steady and grim.
Luca reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his phone, his fingers moving quickly across the screen. Sophia watched him, her heart pounding in her chest.
“Who are you calling?” she asked, her voice low and nervous.
Luca didn’t look at her, his eyes focused on the road. “Old friends,” he said, his voice cold and determined. “People who owe me a debt.”
Sophia’s breath caught in her throat, but she didn’t say anything more.
The city lights faded behind them as they sped along the highway, leaving the city behind and entering into the dark countryside. Luca made several phone calls, each one brief and intense, his voice hard and cold.
Finally, he put the phone away and turned to Sophia. “We’ll be safe,” he said, his voice low and reassuring. “I won’t let Vito get to us.”
Sophia swallowed hard, trying to push back her fear and sorrow. “What happens next?” she asked, her voice trembling.
Luca’s expression hardened, his eyes filled with determination. “We wait,” he said, his voice low and fierce. “We wait until Leo and the others have dealt with Vito. And then…”
His voice trailed off, his jaw clenching as he thought about what would happen next.
Sophia looked at him, her eyes wide and searching. “And then what?” she asked, her voice a whisper.
Luca turned his gaze back to the road, his hands gripping the wheel tightly.
“Babe please let us go home. Remember our children, the twins are at home. I am sure the house is safe and I wouldn’t want to leave my children in situations like this”, Sophia pleaded and Luca turned the wheel facing the direction of their house.
Days passed, each one filled with tension and dread. Luca remained in contact with Leo, his calls growing shorter and more terse as it became clear that Vito had managed to evade capture.
Finally, Luca received a call from Leo that he had been dreading.
“He got away,” Leo’s voice was grim and defeated. “Vito is gone.”
Luca’s face was like stone, his eyes hard and cold. “We’ll find him,” he said, his voice low and fierce.
Sophia watched as Luca hung up the phone, his face like thunder. She knew that he blamed himself for what had happened, for not being able to protect Martha, for not being able to take down Vito.
“What do we do now?” she asked, her voice shaking.
Luca’s jaw tightened as he considered their options. “We’ll go back to the city,” he said, his voice cold and determined. “We’ll confront Vito on his own turf.”
Sophia shook her head, her eyes wide with fear and concern. “Luca, no,” she said, her voice trembling. “We can’t just walk into Vito’s territory. He’ll be expecting us. It’s too dangerous.”
Luca turned to her, his face still hard and set. “He killed Martha,” he said, his voice like steel. “He’s going to pay for what he’s done.”
Sophia’s voice rose in alarm. “And what about you?” she asked, her eyes pleading. “What if something happens to you?”
Luca’s expression softened for a moment, his eyes filled with a deep sadness. “I have to do this,” he said, his voice low and grave. “For Martha, for all of us.”
Sophia shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes. “Luca, please, don’t do this. There has to be another way.”
Luca sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping as he wrestled with his emotions. He knew that Sophia was right-going after Vito was dangerous, perhaps even foolhardy-but he couldn’t shake the sense of duty that compelled him forward.
Finally, he spoke, his voice low and resigned. “Okay,” he said, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. “We’ll find another way.”
Sophia reached out and took his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.
Luca and Sophia spent the next several days holed up in a secluded cabin in the countryside, laying low and plotting their next move. Sophia, who had connections in the legal world, began to research ways to bring Vito to justice without risking their lives.
“We could use the evidence that Leo found,” she said, her voice thoughtful. “There might be enough to get him arrested.”
Luca nodded, his face still grave. “It’s worth a shot,” he said. “But we have to be careful.
As the days passed and the leads dried up, it became clear that their efforts to bring Vito to justice through legal means were not going to work. Sophia was growing desperate, willing to try anything to keep them safe.
“Maybe we could try to make a deal with Vito,” she suggested, her voice tentative. “We could offer him information or something valuable in exchange for peace.”
Luca shook his head, his expression dark and resolute. “No,” he said, his voice firm. “I won’t bargain with him.”
Sophia took a deep breath, her eyes pleading. “Luca, we have to think of something. We can’t keep living like this, always looking over our shoulders.”
Luca sighed heavily, his shoulders slumped in resignation. “I know,” he said, his voice low and grave. “But I won’t give up.”
Sophia squeezed her eyes shut, her heart aching for the man she loved.
“Okay,” she said, her voice soft and resigned.
The next morning, Sophia woke up early, a plan already forming in her mind. She quietly dressed and packed a bag, careful not to wake Luca.
As the sun rose, Sophia made her way out to the car, her heart heavy with the knowledge of what she was about to do. She knew that Luca would never agree to her plan, but she couldn’t see any other way to keep them both safe.
“I’m sorry, Luca,” she whispered to herself, her eyes filled with tears. “I hope you can forgive me.”
Sophia drove for hours, the miles passing in a blur as she made her way back to the city. She knew that Vito would be expecting her, but she also knew that he would not harm her. He had always been obsessed with her, even when she had been with Luca.
Finally, she arrived at Vito’s mansion, her heart pounding in her chest.
She took a deep breath, her eyes steeling themselves as she climbed the steps and rang the bell.
The door opened, and Sophia found herself face to face with one of Vito’s men.
“What do you want?” the man said, his voice gruff.
Sophia swallowed hard, forcing her voice to remain steady. “I need to see Vito,” she said, her eyes fixed on the man’s. “It’s important.”
The man’s eyes narrowed, but he stepped aside, allowing her to enter.
Sophia followed the man down a long, opulent hallway, her heart beating wildly in her chest. She knew that Vito would be furious when he saw her, but she also knew that he would never turn her away.
Finally, they reached a set of double doors, which the man opened with a curt nod. Sophia entered the room, her eyes fixed on the man who stood by the window, his back to her.
“Vito,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
The man turned slowly, his eyes dark and brooding.
Vito’s gaze swept over Sophia, taking in her figure, her face, her hair. He shook his head, his eyes narrowing.
“What are you doing here?” he asked, his voice cold and measured.
Sophia swallowed hard, her eyes fixed on his. “I’ve come to make a deal with you,” she said, her voice steady. “I want to be with you, to be by your side.”
Vito’s eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly regained his composure.
Sophia took a step forward, her eyes softening as she gazed at Vito. “I’ve always known that we were meant to be together,” she said, her voice low and husky. “I should have realized it sooner.”
Vito stared at her, his expression unreadable. “You’re lying,” he said, his voice hard and cynical. “You only came here because you were afraid.”
Sophia shook her head, her eyes pleading.
“It’s true, I was afraid,” Sophia admitted, her voice raw with emotion. “But it wasn’t fear of you. It was fear of losing you.”
Vito’s jaw tightened, but Sophia could see the conflict in his eyes. “I’ve loved you since the day we met,” she said, her voice trembling with sincerity. “And I know that you love me too.”
Vito took a step forward, his eyes burning with intensity. “Do you really think I’m that naive?” he demanded, his voice low and dangerous. “You expect me to believe that you love me, after everything that’s happened?”
Sophia met his gaze, her eyes unflinching. “Yes, I expect you to believe it,” she said, her voice fierce with conviction. “Because it’s the truth.”
Vito stared at her, his heart pounding in his chest.
For a long moment, the two stood frozen, the air between them crackling with tension. Finally, Vito let out a breath, his shoulders sagging in resignation.
“I do love you, Sophia,” he said, his voice quiet and resigned. “But I won’t be a fool.”
Sophia bit her lip, her heart aching for the man before her.
“What do you mean?” she asked, her voice small and uncertain.
“I mean that I can’t trust you,” Vito said, his eyes dark with pain. “I can’t trust that you won’t betray me, just as you betrayed Luca.”
Sophia’s eyes widened in shock. “I would never betray you,” she said, her voice shaking. “I love you, Vito. You’re the only one I want.”
Vito regarded her for a long moment, his expression unreadable.
Vito’s jaw tightened, his eyes narrowed. “Prove it,” he said, his voice hard and demanding. “Prove to me that you love me, and not Luca.”
Sophia’s heart raced as she thought of what he could possibly mean. “How?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Vito’s eyes hardened, his expression cold and calculating.
“You know what you need to do,” he said, his voice low and dangerous.
Sophia’s heart froze as she realized what Vito was asking of her. “You want me to kill Luca?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Vito nodded, his eyes fixed on hers. “Yes,” he said, his voice hard and unyielding. “If you truly love me, if you want to prove your loyalty, then you will do this for me.”
Sophia’s eyes widened in shock, but she knew that Vito was not the kind of man who could be reasoned with.
Sophia’s heart was pounding as she stared at Vito, her mind racing. “Give me this week,” she said, her voice strained. “Just give me this week.
Sophia stood her ground, her voice steady. “I need a week,” she said, her eyes fixed on Vito. “Luca deserves a proper goodbye, and I need time to prepare myself.”
Vito’s jaw tightened, but he finally nodded, his eyes still hard and suspicious. “Fine,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “You have a week. But if you fail me, Sophia…” His voice trailed off, leaving the threat unspoken.
Sophia nodded, her heart heavy with dread.
“I want you to call Luca on a video call and kiss me in his front, that is one of the way you can prove your loyalty” Vito said smirking.
“Ok… kk”. Sophia said stammering as she called Luca on Video call and kissed Vito.
“Hello Luca, this is just to tell you that we have broken up, I don’t love you again” Sophia said in pains.
Sophia’s heart broke as she stared at the phone in her hands, tears stinging her eyes. Vito had insisted that she video call Luca, to prove her loyalty. And now, she was forced to watch Luca’s face crumple with confusion and heartbreak as he watched her kiss Vito, his voice choked with tears.
“Why?” he whispered, his eyes filled with pain. “Why are you doing this, Sophia?”
Sophia’s heart shattered, but she forced herself to remain calm.
“I’m sorry, Luca,” Sophia whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “I never wanted to hurt you.”
Luca’s face twisted with anguish. “How could you do this?” he cried, his voice breaking. “How could you betray me like this?”
Sophia’s breath caught in her throat, her hands trembling as she gripped the phone.
“It’s not what it looks like,” she insisted, her voice pleading.
Luca’s eyes narrowed, his expression dark with suspicion. “What do you mean, it’s not what it looks like?” he demanded, his voice cold and hard. “I saw you kissing him. And I know what kind of man Vito is.”
Sophia’s heart raced as she desperately tried to come up with an explanation. “Luca, listen to me,” she begged, her voice pleading. “There’s more to this than you know, I love Vito sincerely. I don’t love you Luca.
“Hang up, Sophia,” Vito’s voice hissed in her ear, his tone brooking no argument. “You’ve said enough.”
Sophia bit her lip, her eyes filled with anguish as she stared at the screen.
“Luca,” she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. “I’m so sorry.”
With a trembling hand, she ended the call, the room silent save for the sound of her own ragged breathing.
Vito’s arms wrapped around Sophia, pulling her close against his chest. Sophia’s body went rigid, her mind screaming in protest. But she forced herself to relax, leaning into his embrace, her arms wrapping around his waist.
“It’s okay, Sophia,” Vito whispered in her ear, his voice smooth and gentle. “You did what you had to do.”
Sophia nodded, her eyes closed tight as she forced back her tears. “I love you, Vito,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
“I know you do,” Vito whispered, his lips brushing against her hair. “And I love you too, Sophia.”
Sophia shuddered, her mind racing as she struggled to stay in character. She knew that she had to keep up the pretense, for her own safety.
“Thank you, Vito,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “For everything.”
Vito nodded, his expression softening as he pulled away, his eyes fixed on her face.
“You’re welcome, Sophia,” Vito replied, his voice low and reassuring. “You’re safe with me.”
Sophia nodded, a cold shiver running down her spine. “When do you want me to do it?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Vito’s eyes hardened, his expression turning serious. “Soon, Sophia,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “Very soon.”