LUCA 22
Phoenix had always known that being with Luca meant stepping into a world filled with danger and uncertainty, but she had never imagined how deeply it would test her. Now, though, things were beginning to change. Luca was no longer shielding her from the darker aspects of his life; instead, he was bringing her in, letting her see the world he navigated so skilfully.
The shift in their relationship had brought them closer. Luca had always been protective, but now he was also trusting—something Phoenix had desperately needed. She wasn’t just a spectator in his life anymore. She was his partner. And though it scared her, Phoenix found herself growing stronger, more confident, even in the face of uncertainty.
But there was something else—a lingering unease that had started to settle in her body. It had been subtle at first. A few sleepless nights. A fluttering feeling in her stomach. She had chalked it up to the emotional turmoil of the past few weeks—the stress of Bianca, the constant threat of danger—but now, as the days passed, it was getting harder to ignore.
It was late in the evening, and Phoenix was sitting in Luca’s office, reviewing some documents he had asked her to look over. They weren’t directly related to the more dangerous aspects of his business—Luca was still careful about what he exposed her to—but it was a start. She was learning about his operations, the legal fronts he used, the partnerships he maintained. It felt empowering, being trusted with something so important.
Luca sat across from her, watching as she skims through the papers, his dark blue eyes filled with admiration. He had always known Phoenix was strong, but seeing her take on more responsibility, seeing her step into this world with him, made him love her even more.
"How’s it going?" Luca asks, leaning back in his chair with a small smile.
Phoenix glances up, her own smile tugging at her lips. "It’s a lot to take in," she admits, setting the papers down. "But I’m starting to get the hang of it."
Luca chuckles softly. "You’re doing great."
Phoenix blushes, feeling a surge of pride at his words. She has spent so long feeling like she didn’t belong in Luca’s world, like she was constantly fighting to prove herself. But now, for the first time, she felt like she was becoming a part of it—like she could stand beside him as his equal.
But as the moment of pride settles, that familiar feeling of unease creeps back into her chest. She shifts uncomfortably in her chair, her stomach twisting in a way that makes her frown. It wasn’t the first time she had felt like this recently, but she had been brushing it off as stress. Now, though, it was starting to worry her.
Luca notices the change in her expression, his brow furrowing with concern. "Are you okay?"
Phoenix nods quickly, not wanting to alarm him. "Yeah, I’m fine," she says forcing a smile. "Just tired, I guess
Luca studies her for a moment, clearly not convinced. "You’ve been feeling off for a few days now," he says gently. "Are you sure it’s just stress?"
Phoenix hesitates, not wanting to admit how off she has been feeling. She doesn’t want Luca to worry—not after everything they had just been through. But the truth is, she isn’t sure what is happening to her. It feels like something more than just stress, but she doesn’t know what.
"I’m fine," she assures again, trying to sound more confident this time. "It’s probably just everything catching up with me. The past few weeks have been... intense."
Luca’s gaze softens, he reaches across the desk to take her hand in his. "If you need to take a break, you know you can. You’ve been through a lot."
Phoenix squeezes his hand, her heart swelling at his concern. "I know," she thanks softly. "But I don’t want to take a break. I want to keep going. I want to be a part of this."
Luca smiles, his eyes filled with love and admiration. "You’re stronger than you know," he states.
Phoenix smiles back, but as she looks at him, another wave of nausea rolls through her, stronger this time. She presses a hand to her stomach, trying to keep her expression calm, but Luca notices the subtle movement.
"Phoenix," he calls softly, his voice laced with concern. "Maybe you should see a doctor."
Phoenix shakes her head, forcing another smile. "I’m fine, really. It’ll pass."
But even as she says the words, she isn’t sure if she believes them.
The next few days pass in a blur of meetings, paperwork, and quiet moments shared between Luca and Phoenix. Phoenix continues to immerse herself in Luca’s world, learning more about the operations he runs and the people he deals with. She finds that the more she knows, the more confident she feels, even though it still scares her at times.
But as her confidence grows, so does the unease in her body. The nausea comes and goes, sometimes mild, sometimes overwhelming. She finds herself growing more fatigued, her energy draining faster than it used to. At first, she assumed it was because she wasn’t used to the constant stress of Luca’s world, but now... she isn’t so sure.
After a particularly long day, Phoenix sits on the couch in the penthouse, her legs curled beneath her as she tries to relax. Luca is in his office, finishing up some work, and Phoenix has planned to join him later. But as she sits there, her stomach twists violently, sending a wave of nausea crashing through her.
She presses a hand to her mouth, her heart racing as she rushes to the bathroom. It isn’t the first time this has happened, but it is the worst it has been so far. She kneels by the toilet, her hands trembling as she tries to breathe through the nausea.
It feels like everything is spinning out of control.
After a few moments, the nausea subsides, leaving Phoenix feeling weak and drained. She sits back on her heels, her hand still pressed to her stomach as she tries to make sense of what is happening. Was this really just stress? Or was something else going on?
Phoenix stands slowly, her legs shaky as she walks back into the living room. Luca has finished his work and is standing in the doorway, watching her with a concerned frown.
"Phoenix," he calls, his voice soft but firm. "You need to see a doctor."
Phoenix sighed, knowing he is right. She couldn’t keep pretending this was nothing. Something was wrong, and it wasn’t going away.
"Okay," she whispers, nodding. "I’ll go."
Luca crosses the room, pulling her into his arms as he kisses the top of her head. "We’ll figure this out," he promises, his voice filled with quiet determination.
Phoenix closes her eyes, leaning into him. She has spent so long trying to prove her strength, trying to show Luca that she could handle this world. But now, as her body seems to betray her, she realizes that maybe being strong meant admitting when she needed help.
A few days later, Phoenix is sitting in a small, private clinic, waiting anxiously for the results of her tests. Luca has insisted on coming with her, refusing to leave her side even for a moment. He is sitting beside her now, his hand resting on hers, his expression unreadable as they wait for the doctor to return.
Phoenix’s mind races with possibilities. She has been trying to prepare herself for the worst, but the uncertainty is making her nerves fray. She has tried to downplay it at first, thinking it was just stress or anxiety, but now, as they wait for answers, she can’t shake the fear that something more serious is going on.
Finally, the door opens, and the doctor steps in, holding a file in her hands. She smiles warmly at Phoenix and Luca, her eyes kind and reassuring.
"Ms. Phoenix, I have your results," the doctor says, her voice calm.
Phoenix’s heart is pounding in her chest, her hand tightening around Luca’s as she braces herself for the news.
"Everything looks normal," the doctor confirms with a smile. "But there is something we discovered in the blood work."
Phoenix frowns, her stomach twisting with nerves. "What is it?"
The doctor’s smile widens, as she glances between Phoenix and Luca, her voice soft as she speaks.
"You’re pregnant."
The words hang in the air, heavy with significance.
You’re pregnant.
Phoenix feels her heart stop, her breath catching in her throat as she stares at the doctor, trying to process what has just been said. Pregnant? It didn’t seem real. She had come here expecting to hear that her body was reacting to stress, to the constant turmoil of the past few weeks. But this? This is something she had never imagined.
She turns slowly to look at Luca, her eyes wide with shock. His hand is still wrapped around hers, but he is frozen, his expression unreadable. For a long moment, neither of them speak, both struggling to find words in the midst of this revelation.
Finally, Luca blinks, his grip on her hand tightens. "You’re..." His voice trails off, as if he can’t quite bring himself to say it. His dark blue eyes flicker to hers, searching her face for some kind of confirmation, even though the doctor had already given it.
Phoenix nods slowly, her mouth dry as she whispers, "I guess I am."
The doctor, sensing the weight of the moment, smiles gently. "I’ll give you two some privacy," she says softly before quietly slipping out of the room.
As the door clicks shut, the silence in the room becomes almost deafening. Phoenix’s mind is spinning, a million thoughts and fears racing through her all at once. She has never expected this—not now, not with everything else going on. And as the reality of it begins to sink in, a wave of fear washes over her.
She was going to have a baby. A baby with Luca.
Luca sits back in his chair, running a hand through his hair as he tries to wrap his mind around the news. A baby. Phoenix was pregnant. The thought sends a jolt of emotion through him—something he hadn’t expected. He had spent so much of his life focused on power, on control, on maintaining his empire. A family had never been part of the plan, and yet now, in this moment, everything had shifted.
His gaze drifted to Phoenix, who was sitting in stunned silence beside him. He could see the fear in her eyes, the uncertainty, and it broke his heart. He had vowed to protect her, to shield her from the dangers of his world, but now... now they had something even more precious to protect.
Luca reaches out, gently taking her hand in his once again. "Phoenix," he whispers, his voice low but filled with emotion. "I didn’t expect this, but..." He trails off, searching for the right words.
Phoenix looks at him, her eyes glassy with unshed tears. "Neither did I," she admits, her voice trembling. "I don’t even know how to feel right now."
Luca’s heart clenches at the vulnerability in her voice, he pulls her off her chair and onto his lap, wrapping his arms around her as she leans into him. "It’s okay," he murmurs, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "We’ll figure this out. Together."
Phoenix closes her eyes, letting herself melt into his embrace. She can feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath her cheek, and for a moment, it grounds her, makes her feel less like the world is spinning out of control. But the questions, the fears, were still there, lingering just beneath the surface.
"I’m scared," she whispers, her voice barely audible. "What kind of life will our child have? In this world? In your world?"
Luca’s grip tightens around her, his jaw clenches as he considers her words. He knows exactly what she means. His life—the world of the mafia—wasn’t a safe one. It wasn’t the kind of world where children grew up without fear, without danger. But now that he knew they were going to have a baby, something inside him shifted.
"I’ll protect you both," Luca promises firmly, his voice filled with conviction. "I don’t care what I have to do. I’ll make sure you and our child are safe."
Phoenix looks up at him, her green eyes filled with a mix of hope and doubt. "Can we really be safe, Luca? In this life?"
Luca’s heart aches at her question. He wants to promise her the world, to tell her that everything will be okay, that their child will grow up without ever knowing the darkness that surrounds them. But he knows better than to make promises he can’t keep.
"I don’t know," he admits softly, his voice raw with honesty. "But I’m going to do everything I can to make sure you are."
Phoenix’s eyes fill with tears, she leans up to kiss him, her lips trembling against his. It isn’t just about them anymore. It was about something much bigger—something neither of them had planned for but now had to face together.