PHOENIX 2
Phoenix had never been to a club like this before. Sure, she had performed at small venues, local bars where the patrons barely paid attention to the music, but this place was different. The atmosphere was thick with something more than just smoke and alcohol—it was power. It clung to the air like static, prickling at her skin the moment she walked in.
The lights were dim, casting shadows across the faces of the men and women who filled the room, some watching her, others too engrossed in their whispered conversations to notice the new girl walking toward the stage. But Phoenix felt the eyes on her—hungry, assessing. She had been nervous when she first arrived, but that feeling was nothing compared to what settled over her as she stood under the lights, her heart pounding in her chest. She heard from a friend that one of the girls that sang here at the club had been let go as her boyfriend was in a fight when one of the patrons whistled at her. She had immediately taken the opportunity to apply for an audition.
Now that she was here, she was unsure, but it was too late to back off. Taking a deep breath she looks up.
And then she saw him.
Luca Tempo.
The name alone sent a chill down her spine. Everyone in Palermo knew who he was. He ruled the city like a king, his reach extending into every corner of the underworld. Luca Tempo was the kind of man you didn’t cross, the kind of man who could destroy your life with a single word. And here he was, sitting at the back of the club, watching her with those dark blue eyes that made her breath catch in her throat.
Phoenix had heard the stories. She knew exactly who Luca was and what he was capable of. And as her gaze locked with his across the room, she realized with a sinking feeling in her gut that she was in trouble. Real trouble.
Luca’s eyes never left her as she took her place on stage, his gaze so intense it felt like a physical weight pressing down on her. Phoenix’s heart pounded in her chest, her palms slick with sweat as she gripped the microphone. She hadn’t expected this. She hadn’t expected him. And the fact that he was here, watching her, made the air in the room feel suffocating.
Luca Tempo wasn’t just any man. He was the head of the Tempo family—the most feared mafia boss in Sicily. Men died at his command. Women fell at his feet. He ruled the city with an iron fist, and now, for some reason she couldn’t comprehend, he was watching her like she was the only person in the room.
Her stomach twisted in fear.
Phoenix tried to focus on the music, her voice carrying through the club as she sang her heart out, but it was impossible to ignore the sensation of Luca’s gaze burning into her. She could feel him—his presence—so powerful, so commanding, that it dominated the space. The stories she’d heard about him suddenly seemed very real. He was dangerous, unpredictable, and now... she had caught his attention.
When the song ended, Phoenix dared to glance at him again, and what she saw made her pulse quicken. Luca was still watching her, his expression unreadable, but there was a darkness in his eyes that made her chest tighten. It wasn’t just interest—it was possession.
He wanted her.
And that terrified her more than anything.
Phoenix’s heart raced as she stepped off the stage, her legs trembling beneath her. She could still feel Luca’s gaze on her, following her every move, and the tension in the air grew heavier with every step she took. She needed to get out of here. Now.
But before she could make her way to the dressing room, a man stepped in front of her—a large, intimidating figure with a thick build and a no-nonsense expression. He blocked her path with a single motion, his eyes flicking over her briefly before he spoke.
"The boss wants to see you," he said, his voice low and firm.
Phoenix’s stomach dropped, panic surging through her veins. She didn’t need to ask who "the boss" was. She knew. Luca Tempo wanted her, and that meant one thing—trouble. The kind of trouble she couldn’t afford to get mixed up in.
“I... I need to go,” Phoenix stammered, her voice shaking as she tried to move past him. “I can’t stay.”
The man didn’t budge. His expression remained stone-cold, his eyes narrowing slightly. “It wasn’t a request.”
Phoenix’s heart pounded in her chest as she looked past the man, her eyes darting toward the exit. She knew she needed to get out of here, but how? Luca’s power was everywhere—he owned this club, these men. There was no way she could just walk away without consequences.
But that didn’t mean she wouldn’t try.
Without thinking, Phoenix made a break for it, ducking under the man’s arm and heading for the nearest exit. Her heart raced as adrenaline pumped through her veins, her breath coming in short, sharp gasps. She could hear the men shouting behind her, could feel the panic rising in her chest as she pushed her way through the crowd.
She didn’t get far.
Two more men appeared in front of her, cutting off her path to the door. Phoenix skidded to a halt, her chest heaving with fear as she realized she was trapped. The club, the guards, the walls—they were closing in on her, and the weight of Luca’s power was suffocating.
Before she could react, she felt a strong hand grab her arm, pulling her back. She let out a small yelp as she was dragged toward the back of the club, her heart pounding with terror. She tried to fight, kicking and struggling, but the man holding her was too strong.
“Let me go!” Phoenix cried; her voice filled with panic.
But her captor didn’t respond. He simply pulled her through a set of double doors, leading her into a private, dimly lit room in the back of the club. Phoenix’s stomach churned as she was shoved inside, the door closing behind her with a loud thud.
And then she saw him.
Luca Tempo, sitting at a low table, his eyes locked on hers with an intensity that made her feel like she couldn’t breathe.
Luca’s gaze was like a predator watching its prey—calm, controlled, but with a quiet menace simmering just below the surface. Phoenix’s heart hammered in her chest as she stood frozen in the doorway, her breath coming in short, shallow gasps.
She had heard stories about Luca Tempo—stories of men who crossed him and never returned, of women who fell under his spell and were never seen again. She had always thought they were just that—stories. But now, standing in front of him, she realized how wrong she had been.
Luca was more dangerous than she could have ever imagined.
“Sit,” Luca said softly, but his voice carried the weight of an order, not a suggestion.
Phoenix’s body moved before her mind could catch up, and she found herself sitting in the chair across from him, her hands trembling in her lap. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from him, but every instinct inside her screamed to run, to get as far away from this man as possible.
But there was no running. Not from Luca Tempo.
“I don’t want any trouble,” Phoenix said quietly, her voice trembling. “I just want to leave.”
Luca’s lips curved into a small, humourless smile. “It’s too late for that, bella.”
Phoenix’s chest tightened with fear. She knew what he meant—she had caught his eye, and that meant her life was no longer her own. He had claimed her with just a look, and there was nothing she could do to change that.
“You don’t have to do this,” Phoenix whispered, her voice shaking. “You don’t even know me.”
Luca leaned forward, his eyes dark and dangerous as he studied her. “I know enough.”
Phoenix’s heart pounded in her chest, her mind racing. She couldn’t let this happen. She couldn’t let herself be trapped in Luca’s world. But how could she escape? The walls felt like they were closing in on her, and the weight of Luca’s power pressed down on her like a suffocating blanket.
She had to fight. She had to try.
“I’m not some toy you can keep,” Phoenix said, her voice stronger than she felt. “I won’t let you control me.”
Luca’s smile faded, his eyes narrowing slightly. “You misunderstand. I don’t ask for permission.”
Phoenix’s breath caught in her throat as his words sank in. He wasn’t just telling her—he was making it clear. There was no escape. No freedom. Not from Luca Tempo.
But Phoenix wasn’t ready to give up. Not yet.
Before Luca could react, she shot to her feet, her hands trembling as she backed toward the door. “I’m leaving,” she said, her voice shaking with fear and defiance.
Luca didn’t move. He simply watched her with those piercing blue eyes, waiting.
The door was only a few steps away, but as Phoenix reached for the handle, it flew open. One of Luca’s guards stepped inside, his expression cold as he blocked her path.
“You’re not going anywhere,” Luca said quietly, his voice carrying the weight of finality. “You are now mine!”
Phoenix’s heart sank. She was trapped.
And there was no way out.