33. Luca
THIRTY-THREE
LUCA
Waking up felt like crawling out of quicksand.
Antiseptic and bright lights. Hospital. My head throbbed, the light above harsh against my closed eyes. I shifted, and a sharp pull in my side made me wince. My sluggish brain pieced together how I’d ended up here.
Ethan’s fists. The fighting ring. The hits I hadn’t blocked, the blood in my mouth, and Dominic hovering above me like an angel.
Dominic .
He hadn’t deserved to see me like that. I’d hurt him, and for what? To drown out the screaming in my head? I squeezed my eyes shut. I’d thought pain would silence it, but it hadn’t.
A chair creaked.
I cracked an eye open.
He was there, sitting beside the bed like he’d been keeping vigil the whole night. His tie was loose, shirt rumpled—he looked like he’d been through hell. His hazel eyes flicked up and locked onto mine, and I swore I stopped breathing.
“Hey, sweetheart,” he said softly.
I licked my dry lips. “Hey.”
Dominic leaned forward. “Do you have any idea what you put me through?”
I winced. “I didn’t mean to.”
“You didn’t mean to? You stood there and let that bastard hit you, Luca. You didn’t block. You didn’t swing back. You just—” He stopped, scrubbing a hand over his face. “ Why? ”
“I…I needed it to stop.”
Dominic’s voice softened. “What did you need to stop?”
“The guilt,” I whispered. “I’ve been carrying it for so long, Dom. I thought if I could… punish myself, it’d go away.”
He froze. “What guilt?”
I laughed bitterly. “When the Bratva took me, they locked me in a room. Four walls, no windows. Just me and my own goddamn breathing. I was a kid, Dom. I didn’t understand what was happening. I thought they’d kill me. Some days I wanted them to.”
Dominic didn’t move, didn’t speak, but the tension rolling off him filled the room. I kept going.
“There was this guy. Yuri. He was kind to me—one of the only ones. He tried to make it bearable. He’d sneak me food. Books. He’d find reasons to let me out of that room—said the floor needed cleaning or something stupid like that. I didn’t get it then, but he was trying to help me.”
Dominic’s jaw tightened. “Did he hurt you?”
“No. He never touched me. But one day, I saw him kissing another man. I didn’t think it mattered. When they questioned me, I told them what I saw. I thought—” My voice broke. “I thought if I gave them what they wanted, they’d stop hurting me.”
Dominic paled.
“They made an example of him. They tied him to a chair and took turns breaking his fingers. They laughed while they did it, said it was a cleansing. Then they…” My breath caught in my throat. “They burned him alive. And they made me watch.”
“Jesus,” Dominic whispered.
Tears streaked down my face. “He kept looking at me, Dom. Like he was asking why . I didn’t know they’d kill him, but they did. And it was my fault. I got him killed.”
Dominic moved closer, but I couldn’t meet his eyes.
“You asked me why I push people away. Why I keep acting like an asshole. I can’t be around gay men without remembering. I see Yuri’s face. I hear his screams. I thought if I acted the way they wanted, I wouldn’t end up like him.”
Dominic sat there, the weight of my confession filling the silence. “You were a kid. They manipulated you, Luca. What happened to Yuri… that’s on them , not you.”
“He was the only good thing in that hellhole, and I got him killed. I’m fucking broken, Dom. And I’m terrified. I’m scared that if you see the real me, you’ll hate me.”
Dominic’s fingers brushed my cheek. “I could never hate you. Do you hear me? Never . If anything, I love you more now.”
“You do?”
“I love you, Luca.” His thumb wiped the tears from my face. “All of you. Even the parts you’re afraid to show me.”
I closed my eyes. “I’m not good enough for you.”
“You don’t get to decide that for me.”
“I’m broken,” I whispered. “I don’t even know who I am half the time.”
His hand cupped my face. “Then we’ll figure it out. Together.”
I let his touch anchor me, leaning into his palm. For the first time in weeks, I didn’t feel like I was drowning. I didn’t feel alone.
“There’s something else you should know,” I murmured. “Alexei. The man I’ve been looking for—he’s one of the guys who killed Yuri. I took care of everyone else, but he’s still out there.”
He darkened. “I’ll handle it.”
Panic flared in my chest. “Dom, you don’t know what he’s capable of. Alexei isn’t just dangerous. He’s ruthless. He won’t hesitate?—”
“Neither will I.”
My heart twisted. “I don’t want you hurt because of me.”
“You’ve spent too long fighting battles by yourself, Luca. It stops now.”
Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, and I blinked them back. “You make it sound easy.”
“You underestimate what I’m capable of when it comes to you.”
“You shouldn’t have to do this for me.”
“Luca, listen to me. You don’t have to keep punishing yourself for things that weren’t your fault. You survived. Let me help you live.”
“I don’t even know where to start.”
“You start by letting me take some of the weight off.” Dominic’s expression softened, and he pressed a kiss to my forehead. He pulled back slowly. “Get some rest. I’ll be back soon.”
“Where are you going?”
He smiled. “Don’t worry, I’ll be back.”
Dominic squeezed my hand before standing. Then he turned and walked out of the room, the door clicking softly behind him.
Silence settled around me, broken only by a muffled announcement over the intercom.
The door opened again.
Santino stepped inside, his tall frame filling the doorway. Behind him, Delilah slipped in.
“Luca!” Delilah rushed to my side. “Oh my God, are you okay?”
I smiled weakly. “Took up a new hobby. Didn’t work out.”
Santino stood at the foot of the bed, arms crossed.
Delilah frowned at him. “Sonny, go easy. He’s recovering.”
“You think he deserves easy after pulling this shit?”
“It’s fine.” I forced myself to sit up, ignoring the pain. “Let him say what he’s gotta say.”
His jaw ticked as he dragged a chair closer and sat down, leaning his forearms on his knees. “You want to tell me what the hell’s been going on with you?”
I swallowed hard. “I’m gay.”
Delilah froze, her lips parting. Santino didn’t blink. His dark gaze drilled into me.
“I know,” he said finally.
I stared at him. “What?”
He tilted his head. “I’ve suspected it for a while, and then you made out with your boss right in front of me.”
Delilah straightened. “Wait. You and Dominic?”
“It’s complicated.”
“Yeah,” he snapped. “Vinn won’t be happy. He trusted Dominic, and he crossed a line.”
I shook my head. “Dom didn’t hurt me.”
“You’ve been falling apart since you got involved with him.”
“He makes me happy,” I snapped.
Santino’s gaze narrowed. “Does he?”
I clenched my jaw. “Yes.”
The room went quiet. Delilah shifted beside me, her face softening. “That’s all that matters, Sonny.”
Santino let out a long breath. “You’re done working with him. I won’t risk you getting caught up in something you can’t walk away from.”
“You’re not gonna hurt him, are you?” I rasped.
Santino’s eyes flickered. “You want me to promise that?”
“Yes.”
He exhaled sharply. “If you don’t want me to lay a hand on him, I won’t. But you’re out of that job, Luca. End of story.”
I slumped back against the pillows. “Fine.”
Santino’s brow ticked up. “I’m not watching you destroy yourself while that man turns a blind eye.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about. Dom saved me. He’s the reason I’m still here.”
“Is he? You’re lying in a goddamn hospital bed.”
Delilah shot Santino a look. “Enough.”
Santino’s jaw worked. “I know you’ve been through shit, but this isn’t handling it. It’s suicide.”
My stomach twisted. “I’m not?—”
He stood abruptly, his chair scraping the floor. “Don’t bullshit me. You need to get your shit together. I’m not burying you again.”
He turned and left the room, slamming the door shut.
Delilah grasped my hand. “He’s just scared.”
I sighed. “Yeah.”
She gave me a small smile. “You scared me, too.”
“I know. I wasn’t thinking.”
She squeezed my hand. “Santino’s hard as hell, but he’s right. This isn’t the way to deal with it. Promise me you’ll take it easy, okay? No more stunts like this.”
I grunted.
She sighed. “I’ll check on Santino before he puts his fist through a wall. Get some rest, Luca.”
She slipped out, the door clicking shut behind her. Silence swallowed the room whole. Just me, the hum of hospital machines, and a weight pressing on my chest.
My phone buzzed.
I froze. My eyes darted to the screen— Unknown Number .
I grabbed the phone, swiping it open.
Unknown
I have Dominic. Come alone, or you’ll get him back in pieces. – A
My blood turned to ice. My hands gripped the phone so tightly the screen nearly cracked.
Alexei.
My stomach turned, bile rising in my throat. That sick fuck had Dominic ?
No .
I hit Dominic’s number, my thumb smashing the call button. The phone rang, and my breath caught. Come on, Dom. Pick up . Pick up.
Straight to voicemail.
I swallowed hard. I tried again. It rang longer this time before cutting off.
Voicemail.
“Fuck.”
I called again. My pulse pounded, matching the dread in my gut. I hit redial over and over.
“Pick up the goddamn phone!” I snarled.
No answer. Just the robotic recording of his voicemail.
My breathing turned ragged. Maybe Dominic’s phone had died. Maybe he was driving. Or maybe…
I ripped the sheets off my legs and tore off the tape on my hand. Pain exploded through my arm as I ripped the IV free, blood welling where the needle had been. I hissed through clenched teeth, clutching the crook of my elbow to stop the bleeding.
The dull ache in my ribs flared as I swung my legs off the bed, sending sharp stabs through my side. I froze, hunched over, breathing hard through my nose.
Every muscle felt raw, like I’d been scraped from the inside out. My jaw throbbed where Ethan’s punches had landed, and bruises mottled my ribs beneath the thin hospital gown. I didn’t need a mirror to know I looked like shit—black eye, swollen knuckles, and skin that ached under every shift of fabric.
I stood slowly, pressing a hand to my side where fresh stitches pulled against angry skin. My legs shook beneath me, but I gritted my teeth and forced them to hold.
Move. You don’t have time for this.
I swiped the phone off the nightstand. Every inch of me protested as I bent to grab my jeans off the chair. Dressing took twice as long as it should have. I pulled the shirt over my head, sweat slicking my forehead. My vision swam dangerously.
It’s a trap.
Of course it was. Alexei didn’t play fair.
But what if it wasn’t?
What if Dominic had found Alexei first and walked into whatever nightmare Alexei had planned? Dominic wasn’t stupid, but he didn’t know Alexei. He didn’t know how unhinged the man could be.
Alexei was fucking with me, but the thought of Dominic alone, hurt…
I shoved my feet into my boots, tying the laces.
How the hell did Alexei even know?
My hands hovered over the laces. How did Alexei find out about Dominic and me? No one outside of Delilah and Santino knew. Not unless…
My teeth ground together. Frank. The bastard sold me out. He could’ve easily sold the information to the Russians to get back at us.
I wiped my face with a towel and forced my legs to move. I pushed open the door, the lights of the hallway blinding me. The world tilted but I braced myself against the wall and kept moving.
I didn’t care if Alexei was dangling Dominic like meat on a hook. If Dominic was out there, if there was even the smallest chance he needed me, I wasn’t going to sit in a goddamn hospital bed and wait.
Dominic wasn’t going to confront Alexei alone. I wouldn’t let him.
I limped down the hall, one hand pressed against my side. Each step burned.
I’d survive this. Dominic would survive this.
And Alexei?
He wouldn’t.