7. Luca
7
LUCA
T he moment I step back into the ballroom, I feel the weight of my true purpose settle over me like a shroud. The soft-spoken Leonardo I played on the terrace disappears, replaced by Luca Strambo, the man who’s come to claim his pound of flesh.
I scan the room, my eyes cold and calculating. The opulent decorations, the glittering jewels, the forced laughter—it all seems so trivial now.
These people, with their petty concerns and meaningless squabbles, have no idea what’s about to hit them.
I catch Marco’s eye across the room and give an imperceptible nod while pressing the device close to my heart to notify the men in the kitchens. It’s time.
The first gunshot shatters the air like a thunderclap, and for a moment, everything freezes. The music cuts off abruptly, replaced by a stunned silence. Then, as if a spell has been broken, chaos erupts.
Screams fill the air as my men emerge from their positions, guns blazing. The Marino guards, caught off guard, fall quickly. Blood blossoms on pristine white shirts, staining the marble floor. The metallic scent of it fills the air, mixing with the cloying perfumes of the panicking guests.
I move through the crowd like a shark through water, my gun an extension of my arm. Around me, the scene devolves into something out of a nightmare. Women in elaborate gowns stumble and fall, their high heels betraying them as they try to flee. Men in expensive suits push and shove, their veneer of civility stripped away by fear.
A crystal chandelier shatters as a stray bullet hits it, raining shards of glass down on the screaming crowd. The tinkling sound is almost beautiful in its destruction, a counterpoint to the harsh report of gunfire and the guttural cries of the wounded.
I’m so focused on my goal—reaching Dom and Sofia—that I almost miss the blur of movement to my left. Almost.
I spin, bringing my gun up just in time to deflect a blow from a mountain of a man. Rork O’Malley. Fuck. Of course. I should have known he wouldn’t go down without a fight.
We grapple for a moment, a deadly dance amid the chaos. Rork is all brute strength, but I'm quicker, more agile. I manage to break free, putting some distance between us.
“You picked the wrong party to crash, fucker,” Rork growls, his scarred face twisted in a snarl.
I laugh, the sound harsh and humorless. “Oh, I don’t think so. The party’s just getting started.”
Before Rork can respond, another figure joins the fray. To my surprise, it’s Dante Tenebre. The man I’d dismissed as useless is suddenly very much a threat, his movements fluid and practiced as he takes down one of my men with a well-placed blow.
Goddammit.
For a moment, I’m caught off guard. This isn’t the pampered son-in-law I expected. This is a trained fighter, and together with Rork, he’s proving to be a formidable obstacle.
The fight that ensues is brutal and swift. Rork and Dante work in tandem, covering each other’s weaknesses, pressing their advantage. They manage to take down three of my men before we finally get the upper hand.
A shot from Marco catches Dante in the shoulder, sending him spinning to the ground with a cry of pain. Rork, distracted by his fallen comrade, leaves himself open just long enough for two of my men to tackle him. Even then, it takes four of them to subdue him, and he doesn’t go down without leaving a trail of broken bones and bloody noses in his wake.
With Rork and Dante neutralized, the path to my true targets is clear. I stride forward, my men falling into formation behind me. The crowd parts before us like the Red Sea, terrified faces blurring into a single mass of fear.
And then I see them. The Marino sisters and mother, huddled together near the far wall. Dom stands in front of them, his body a human shield, his eyes blazing with defiance.
As we approach, I see Mia’s eyes widen in recognition. “Leonardo,” she cries out, her voice a mix of confusion and hope. “What are you doing ?”
I can’t help the twisted smile that spreads across my face. Poor, naive little Mia. Did she really think our moment on the terrace meant anything? “Sorry, sweetheart,” I drawl, enjoying the way her face falls. “Leonardo doesn’t exist. Never did.”
Sofia gasps, her face turning white as she finally recognizes me. “That’s not Leonardo,” she says, her voice shaking. “It’s Luca Strambo, the man who kidnapped me and nearly killed Dom. I thought you were dead .”
I bow with a flourish, my gun never wavering from its aim at Dom's chest. “Nope. Alive and kicking. Did you miss me, Sofia?”
Dom’s eyes narrow, his body tensing as he prepares to spring into action. But before he can move, I cock my gun, the sound loud in the sudden silence.
“Ah, ah,” I warn. “I wouldn’t if I were you, Dom. Unless you want your lovely wife to become a widow.”
“What do you want, Luca?” Dom demands, his voice tight with barely controlled rage.
I grin, all teeth and no humor. “What do I want? I want what’s owed to me. I want my pound of flesh.”
“Please.” Sofia steps forward, her hands outstretched in supplication. “Please, Luca. Don’t do this. Don’t kill him.”
I raise an eyebrow, amused by her desperation. Where was this when they tried to kill me?
“And why shouldn’t I? Give me one good reason I shouldn’t put a bullet in your husband’s head right now.”
Sofia’s hand goes to her stomach, a gesture so small I almost miss it. “Because,” she says, her voice barely above a whisper, “I’m pregnant. Please, Luca. Don’t take my child’s father away before they even have a chance to meet him.”
For a moment, just a moment, I falter as her sisters and mother gasp. The image of a child growing up without a father, like I did, flashes through my mind. But I push it aside.
I didn’t come this far to be swayed by sentiment.
“How touching,” I sneer, though my voice lacks some of its earlier venom. “A little Sicura heir on the way. But I’m afraid that's not good enough, Sofia. Your happiness, your family—that should have been mine. And now I’m here to take it all away.”
“There has to be another way,” Sofia pleads, tears streaming down her face. “Anything. Please, Luca. I’m begging you.”
My, oh my, how I do love to hear Sofia Sicura begging for mercy. I wish I had a camera to record this. But I consider her words, my eyes sweeping over the terrified faces of the Marino sisters. And then my gaze lands on Mia. Sweet, innocent Mia, who looked at me with such trust and hope on that moonlit terrace.
A plan begins to form in my mind, cruel and perfect.
“Alright, Sofia,” I say slowly, enjoying the way hope flares in her blue eyes. “I’ll make you a deal. I’ll spare Dom's life… if you give me Mia as my bride.”
The silence that follows is deafening. Anna Marino screams. Mia’s face drains of color, her eyes wide with shock and fear. Chiara gasps, her hand flying to her mouth. Bianca cries out, “No!” And Sofia… Sofia looks like I’ve just ripped her heart out.
“No,” she says, her voice hoarse. “No, I won’t do that. I won’t sacrifice my sister.”
How noble. I shrug, turning back to Dom. “Have it your way, then.”
My finger tightens on the trigger, and I can see the resignation in Dom’s eyes. He thinks this is the end.
And it would be, if not for what happens next.
“Wait!” Mia’s voice rings out, clear and strong despite the tremor I can hear underneath. “I’ll do it. I’ll marry you.”
The room goes still, all eyes turning to the youngest Marino sister. She stands tall, her chin raised defiantly despite the tears shining in her eyes.
“Mia, no,” Sofia starts to protest, but Mia cuts her off.
“I can’t let you become a widow, Sofia. Not when you’re… when you’re going to have a baby.” Mia’s voice breaks on the last word, but she soldiers on. “I’ll go with him. Willingly.”
I can’t help but admire her spirit. Even now, faced with a monster, she’s thinking of her family first.
It’s… unexpected.
Sofia tries to object again, but Mia is resolute. The sisters share a tearful embrace, whispering words too low for me to hear. When they part, Mia’s face is wet with tears, but her eyes are determined.
She turns to me, and I’m struck by the strength I see in her gaze. She suddenly looks much older than her eighteen years. “I’m ready,” she says simply.
I nod, oddly affected by her bravery. “Say your goodbyes,” I tell her, my voice gruffer than I intended. “We leave in five minutes.”
As Mia turns back to her family for one last farewell, I survey the scene around us. The ballroom, once a picture of elegance and wealth, now lies in ruins. Broken glass crunches underfoot, and the pristine marble floor is stained with blood and spilled champagne. The air is thick with the acrid smell of gunpowder and the metallic tang of blood.
My men stand at attention, their faces impassive as they watch the drama unfold. In the distance, I can hear sirens approaching. We don't have much time.
“It’s time,” I say, reaching out to take Mia's arm.
She flinches at my touch but doesn’t pull away. As I lead her toward the exit, I can’t help but look back at Sofia and Dom. The anguish on their faces is everything I’ve dreamed of.
This may not be what I came to do, but who gives a fuck?
This is my victory, my revenge.
We step out into the cool night air, leaving behind the destroyed ballroom and the shattered remains of the Marino family’s perfect world. Mia is silent beside me, her tears falling quietly as we make our way to the waiting car.
As we drive away, the sirens growing louder behind us, I steal a glance at my unexpected bride. She sits rigidly, her gaze fixed straight ahead, her hands clenched tightly in her lap. In this moment, she looks less like the carefree girl I talked with on the terrace and more like a prisoner being led to her execution.
But I push aside any fleeting thoughts of sympathy. This is war, and in war, there are casualties. Mia Marino is merely collateral damage in my grand plan for revenge.
“You made the right choice,” I tell her, my voice cool and composed. “Your sister’s unborn child will have a father because of your sacrifice. Maybe they’ll even name the baby after you if it’s a girl.”
Mia doesn’t respond, doesn't even acknowledge that I’ve spoken. Her silence is a tangible thing, filling the car with an almost suffocating tension.
I lean back in my seat, a smile playing at the corners of my mouth. Let her sulk. Let her hate me. It doesn’t matter. What matters is that I’ve won.
As we speed through the night, leaving behind the chaos and destruction of the Marino estate, I replay the events of the evening in my mind. The look of terror on Sofia’s face when she recognized me. The impotent rage in Dom’s eyes as he realized he was powerless to protect his family. The shock and betrayal on Mia's face when she learned the truth about “Leonardo”.
Each memory is sweeter than the last, a balm to the years of pain and humiliation I’ve endured.
I pull out my phone, dialing a familiar number. Marco answers on the first ring.
“It’s done,” I tell him, not bothering to hide the satisfaction in my voice. “Make sure our tracks are covered. I want no trace of our involvement left behind.”
“Consider it done, Boss,” Marco replies. “And may I say, that was a masterful play back there. Taking the girl… it’s going to destroy them.”
I chuckle, the sound dark and triumphant. “That’s the idea, my friend. The Sicuras and the Marinos thought they were untouchable. They’re about to learn just how wrong they were.”
I end the call and turn my attention back to Mia. She’s still staring straight ahead, but I can see the slight tremble in her lower lip, the way her knuckles have gone white from gripping her own hands so tightly.
“You know,” I say conversationally, as if we’re discussing the weather, “I had originally planned to kill Dom tonight. To make Sofia watch as I took everything from her, just as she took everything from me.”
Mia flinches at my words but remains silent.
“But this,” I continue, gesturing between us, “this is so much better. Death would have been too quick, too merciful. Now, they’ll have to live with the knowledge that they couldn’t protect you. That their perfect little world isn’t so perfect after all.”
I reach out, catching a lock of Mia’s hair between my fingers. She jerks away from my touch, and I laugh.
“Don’t worry, little Marino,” I say, my voice a mockery of gentleness. “I’m not the monster they’ve made me out to be. I have no interest in forcing myself on an unwilling bride.”
For the first time since we left the estate, Mia turns to look at me. Her eyes, so warm and trusting on the terrace, are now cold and filled with a hatred that almost takes my breath away.
“You’re worse than a monster,” she spits, her voice hoarse from crying. “You’re a coward. A small, pathetic man who can only feel big by hurting others.”
Her words are meant to wound, but they only amuse me. I laugh, the sound echoing in the confines of the car.
“Oh, Mia,” I say, shaking my head. “You have no idea what I am. But you will. In time, you’ll come to understand why I’ve done what I've done. And who knows? You might even thank me for it one day.”
She turns away, disgust written clearly on her face. But I don’t care. Her hatred, her disgust, her fear—they’re all part of my victory. Each tear she sheds is a testament to my triumph over the Sicuras and the Marinos.
I feel a sense of elation unlike anything I’ve experienced before. Years of planning, of biding my time, have finally paid off. I’ve struck at the heart of my enemies, leaving them broken and bleeding.
Dom Sicura thought he had won when he took Sofia from me. He thought his empire was secure, his family safe. But I’ve shown him how wrong he was. I’ve taken his sister-in-law, the baby of the family, right out from under his nose.
And in doing so, I’ve shattered the illusion of safety and power he’s built around himself.
Sofia, the woman who chose him over me, will have to live with the guilt of her sister’s fate. Every time she looks at her child, she’ll remember the price of its father’s life. The knowledge that she couldn’t protect Mia will eat away at her, poisoning her perfect little family from the inside out.
And the Marino sisters? Their unbreakable bond has been severed. Bianca and Chiara will blame Sofia for not finding another way. Sofia will resent them for not doing more to stop Mia from sacrificing herself. And Mia… well, Mia will learn what it means to be truly alone in this world.
As for me? I’ve won. Completely and utterly. I’ve taken everything from them, just as they took everything from me.
And the best part?
This is only the beginning.
I look at Mia again, taking in her tear-stained face, her trembling form. She represents my ultimate victory, my triumph over those who thought they could crush me. With her by my side, willing or not, I’ll build my empire.
And this time, no one will dare to challenge me.
The night stretches out before us, dark and full of promise. And I, Luca Strambo, once cast aside and forgotten, now stand triumphant.
The world that once mocked me will soon learn to fear my name.
Let them come. Let them try to take back what I’ve claimed. They’ll find that I’m not the same man they once dismissed so easily. I’m stronger now, more ruthless. And I have the one thing they value above all else.
I have Mia Marino. And with her, I have my revenge.