PHOENIX 23
Over the next few days, the reality of the pregnancy began to sink in for both Phoenix and Luca. Phoenix found herself constantly touching her stomach, still unable to fully comprehend that a life was growing inside her. She hadn’t even had time to think about what this meant for her future, for her relationship with Luca, and yet it was happening, whether she was ready or not.
Luca, on the other hand, was consumed by the need to protect. His instincts had always driven him to shield those he cared about from harm, but now it was different. Now, he wasn’t just protecting Phoenix—he was protecting their child. And that changed everything.
One morning, as they sit together in the penthouse, Phoenix turns to Luca, her voice soft but serious. "What are we going to do?" she asks, her fingers absentmindedly tracing circles on her stomach. "I mean... how do we raise a child in the middle of all this?"
Luca’s jaw tightens, he leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he thinks about her question. It wasn’t something he had ever considered before. His life had always been dangerous, filled with risks and enemies lurking in the shadows. But now, with a baby on the way, he knew things had to change.
"We’ll figure it out," Luca promises after a long pause, his voice quiet but resolute. "I’ll make sure the world I’ve built doesn’t touch you or our child."
Phoenix raises an eyebrow, her expression sceptical. "How, Luca? You’re the head of the Tempo family. That life—it’s dangerous. How can you separate it from us?"
Luca turns to face her, his eyes dark and serious. "I’ll keep you both away from it. We can move to the country, somewhere far from Palermo. I’ll set up protection around you. You won’t have to be involved in any of it."
Phoenix frowns, uncertainty gnawing at her. "But you’ll still be involved, won’t you? You’ll still be part of that world."
Luca sighs, running a hand through his hair. "I have responsibilities, Phoenix. But I can limit my involvement. I can distance myself."
Phoenix’s heart aches at the thought. She knows how much Luca has sacrificed to get to where he was, how much power he held. Could he really walk away from all of that? Could he truly separate himself from the world that had shaped him?
"I don’t want you to lose yourself," Phoenix whispers. "I just... I want our child to have a chance at a normal life."
Luca’s eyes soften, he reaches out, taking her hand in his. "Our child will have a normal life," he promises, his voice filled with quiet determination. "I’ll make sure of it."
As the days pass, Phoenix and Luca begin to adjust to the idea of becoming parents. Phoenix’s fears still linger, but with Luca by her side, she feels a growing sense of hope. They had faced so many challenges together already—surely, they could face this one too.
One evening, as they lay in bed together, Luca turns to her, his hand resting on her stomach. "Do you think it’s a boy or a girl?" he asks softly, his voice filled with a rare sense of wonder.
Phoenix smiles, her heart swelling with love. "I don’t know," she whispers, her fingers lacing with his. "But I can’t wait to find out."
Luca leans down, pressing a gentle kiss to her stomach, and for the first time in a long while, Phoenix feels a sense of peace wash over her. They didn’t have all the answers, and there were still so many unknowns ahead of them, but they were facing it together. And that was all that mattered.
"I love you," Luca states, his voice thick with emotion.
Phoenix smiles, her eyes filled with love. "I love you too."
The news of Phoenix’s pregnancy had brought a sense of peace and hope to Luca and Phoenix, but in the back of Luca’s mind, he knew their happiness would draw attention. He had made many enemies in his life, and now that he had something even more precious to protect, the weight of his world felt heavier than ever.
And then there was Bianca.
Luca had cut her out of his life, destroyed her influence, and made it clear that there was no place for her in his future. But Bianca wasn’t the type to accept defeat gracefully. Luca knew she would come back. He just didn’t know when or how.
Phoenix, on the other hand, had been trying to focus on the positives. She and Luca had begun talking about their future, about raising a child together, and for the first time in a long time, she felt like they were building something solid. She was determined not to let her fears consume her, but deep down, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something—or someone—was still watching, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Luca tightened security around Phoenix considerably. His men were stationed outside the penthouse at all hours, and Phoenix wasn’t allowed to leave without an escort. At first, she had bristled at the restrictions, but she knew it was Luca’s way of keeping her safe. She also knew he was right—there was always a threat lurking just out of sight.
But even with all the precautions in place, the feeling of unease only grew stronger.
One afternoon, while Luca was out handling business, Phoenix was in the kitchen preparing lunch when her phone buzzed on the counter. She wiped her hands on a towel and glanced at the screen, her stomach dropping when she saw the name: Bianca .
Phoenix’s heart raced as she opened the message, her hands trembling slightly as she read the words.
You think a baby will keep him tied to you forever? You’re even more na?ve than I thought. Luca belongs to me. I’ll make sure you and your little fantasy family disappear before you can even blink.
Phoenix’s breath caught in her throat, her hand flying to her stomach as if to shield her unborn child from the venom in Bianca’s words. She had known Bianca wasn’t done, but this was different. This was a direct threat—not just to her, but to her baby.
Her pulse pounds in her ears as fear wraps its icy fingers around her. She knew she needed to tell Luca, but the idea of worrying him, of making him even more protective than he already was, made her hesitate. He had been so calm lately, so focused on building their future, and Phoenix didn’t want to disrupt that.
But this... This was serious.
She immediately dialled Luca’s number, her heart pounding as she waited for him to answer.
Luca had just finished a meeting with one of his lieutenants when his phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulls it out, his brow furrowing when he sees Phoenix’s name flash across the screen. It wasn’t like her to call during the day unless something was wrong.
"Phoenix?" Luca answers, his voice immediately filled with concern. "What’s going on?"
Phoenix’s voice is shaky on the other end of the line. "Luca... Bianca texted me."
Luca’s blood ran cold at the mention of Bianca’s name, his entire body tensing. "What did she say?" he asks, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.
Phoenix takes a deep breath, her voice trembling as she reads the message aloud. When she finished, the silence on the other end of the line is deafening. She can feel Luca’s rage through the phone, could imagine the way his dark blue eyes would be narrowing, his jaw clenched in fury.
"I’m coming home," Luca replies, his voice tight with barely controlled anger. "Stay inside. Don’t open the door for anyone but me."
"Luca," Phoenix calls, her heart racing, "I’m fine. It’s just a message—"
"No," Luca growls, cutting her off. "This isn’t just a message. She threatened you. She threatened our child. She won’t get another chance."
Phoenix swallows hard, her fingers tightening around the phone. She had never heard Luca sound like this before—so cold, so deadly. She knew he was capable of immense violence when it came to protecting what was his, but hearing it directed toward Bianca felt different. This wasn’t just business. This was personal.
"I’ll be there in ten minutes," Luca says before ending the call.
Luca was back at the penthouse within minutes, storming through the door with a look of pure fury etched across his face. Phoenix was sitting on the couch, her phone still clutched in her hand, when she sees the tension in Luca’s body, her heart skips a beat.
"Let me see the message," Luca demands, his voice low and dangerous.
Phoenix hands him the phone, watching as he reads the text, his expression darkening with every word. His fists clench at his sides, and for a moment, Phoenix worries he might crush the phone in his hands.
"I’m going to kill her," Luca growls, his voice filled with a deadly promise.
Phoenix stands, crossing the room to place a gentle hand on his arm. "Luca, don’t," she whispers, her voice trembling. "You can’t let her get to you like this."
Luca turns to her, his eyes blazing with intensity. "She threatened you, Phoenix. She threatened our child. I’m not letting her get away with that."
Phoenix’s heart races, her own fear warring with the desire to keep Luca from doing something he would regret. She had never seen him like this—so angry, so protective. It scared her, but it also made her realize just how much she meant to him.
"Luca, please," she whispers, stepping closer to him. "I don’t want you to put yourself in danger because of her. We’ve come too far to let her destroy everything."
Luca’s expression softens slightly as he looks down at her, his heart aching at the fear in her eyes. He pulls her into his arms, holding her close as he presses a kiss to her forehead.
"I won’t let anything happen to you," Luca whispers, his voice raw with emotion. "I’ll protect you and our baby, no matter what."
Phoenix clings to him, her heart pounding with a mixture of fear and love. She knows Luca meant every word, but the idea of him confronting Bianca terrifies her. Bianca was dangerous, but Luca... Luca was capable of things Phoenix didn’t even want to imagine.
"I trust you," Phoenix whispers, her voice shaky. "But please, don’t let her push you to do something you can’t take back."
Luca tightens his grip on her, his heart torn between his need for vengeance and his love for Phoenix. He had to protect her, but Phoenix was right—he couldn’t let Bianca drag him down into the darkness. Not when they had so much to look forward to.
"I won’t let her come between us," Luca promises, his voice soft but filled with determination. "But I’m going to make sure she never gets close to you again."
Luca didn’t waste any time. He sent his men out to track down Bianca, making it clear that he wanted her found—and fast. His overprotective instincts had kicked into overdrive, and he was determined to end this once and for all. Bianca had gone too far, and now she had to face the consequences.
Hours later, as night fell over Palermo, Luca received the call he had been waiting for. His men had located Bianca at one of her few remaining hideouts—a small, seedy club on the outskirts of the city. Luca didn’t hesitate. He grabbed his jacket, preparing to leave, but as he turned to go, Phoenix stepped in front of him.
"Don’t do this," she says softly, her eyes filled with worry. "I know you want to protect us, but please... don’t let her drag you down to her level."
Luca’s jaw tightens, his heart aching as he looks at her. He knows she is right, but the rage simmering inside him is too strong. Bianca had threatened his family, and he couldn’t let that go unanswered.
"I have to do this, Phoenix," he states quietly, his voice filled with resolve. "I can’t let her keep coming after us."
Phoenix’s eyes fill with tears, but she nods, knowing that she can’t stop him. "Just... be careful."
Luca pulls her into his arms, pressing a fierce kiss to her lips. "I’ll be back soon," he promises. "And when I get back, this will be over."
The streets of Palermo were quieter than usual, the night air heavy with tension as Luca’s car speeds through the dimly lit roads. He sits in the back seat, his fists clenched at his sides, his jaw tight with barely controlled fury. His men are driving, their expressions hard, knowing that this night would end in bloodshed.
Luca has been waiting for this moment. He has given Bianca every chance to walk away, to leave his life for good, but she had refused. And now, she had gone too far. She had threatened Phoenix—threatened their child—and that was something Luca could never forgive.
As the car approaches the rundown club on the outskirts of the city, Luca’s heart pounds in his chest. He wasn’t sure how this confrontation would end, but one thing was certain: Bianca wasn’t walking away unscathed.
"She’s inside," one of his men says as they pull to a stop. "No guards. Just her."
Luca nods, his expression dark. "Stay outside. I’ll handle this."
His men hesitate for a moment, clearly worried about letting him go in alone, but they nod in understanding. Luca was a force of nature when it came to protecting those he loved, and tonight, he was going to make sure Bianca understood that.
Luca steps out of the car, his muscles tense as he walks toward the club’s entrance. The building is small, dingy, with peeling paint and flickering neon lights. It reeks of desperation—the perfect hideout for someone who had lost everything.
Pushing open the door, Luca steps inside, his eyes quickly adjusting to the dim light. The club is nearly empty, save for a few overturned chairs and empty bottles scattered across the floor. And there, standing by the bar, is Bianca.
She turns as the door clicks shut behind him, her eyes narrowing as she meets Luca’s gaze. Her expression is unreadable, a mixture of anger, desperation, and something darker. For a long moment, neither of them speak, the tension between them crackling like electricity.
"Coming to finish what you started?" Bianca calls, her voice laced with bitterness.
Luca’s eyes darken as he takes a step closer, his posture radiating barely controlled fury. "You threatened Phoenix. You threatened our child."
Bianca’s lips curl into a twisted smile, her eyes gleaming with something dangerous. "I told you, Luca. She doesn’t belong in your world. You’re only fooling yourself if you think she’ll ever be able to handle this life."
Luca’s fists clench at his sides, his anger simmering beneath the surface. "This isn’t about her handling anything, Bianca. This is about you. You couldn’t handle losing, and now you’re trying to destroy everything I care about."
Bianca laughs, the sound hollow and bitter as she takes a step toward him. "I was there for you, Luca. Long before she ever came into the picture. And you threw me away like I was nothing."
"You were never more than a pawn," Luca growls, his voice low and dangerous. "You used everyone around you to climb higher. But you made the mistake of thinking you could control me."
Bianca’s smile falters, her eyes flashing with anger. "Control you?" she spat. "You’ve always been out of control, Luca. You think you’re untouchable, but I know you. I know what you are. And deep down, you know you belong with me—not her."
Luca takes another step forward, his expression hard as stone. "What I am, Bianca, is done with you."
For a moment, Bianca’s bravado cracks, and Luca sees the desperation in her eyes. She had lost everything—her power, her influence, and now, her last chance at holding on to Luca. But rather than backing down, Bianca’s face twists with fury, and she lunges for him.
Luca was ready.
In an instant, he grabs her wrists, twisting her arms behind her back and pinning her against the bar. Bianca lets out a frustrated scream, struggling against his hold, but Luca doesn’t let go. His breath is ragged, his anger boiling over as he leans in close, his voice cold and deadly.
"You came near Phoenix, you threatened my family, and I will make sure you disappear. For good."
Bianca’s breath hitches, and she stops struggling, her body trembling beneath his grip. For the first time, Luca saw real fear in her eyes—fear of him, of what he was capable of. But there was still a spark of defiance, a glimmer of the woman who had always thought she could bend the world to her will.
"You think you’ve won, Luca?" Bianca whispers, her voice shaky but still filled with venom. "You think you can just walk away from this? From me?"
Luca’s grip on her tightens, his heart pounding in his chest. He had spent so long keeping his anger in check, trying to handle things diplomatically, but Bianca had pushed him too far. She had threatened the people he loved, and now she had to face the consequences.
"I already have," Luca states coldly.
He releases her, pushing her away from him with one final shove. Bianca stumbles, catching herself on the edge of the bar, her breath coming in short, sharp gasps as she stares at him with wide, fearful eyes.
For a long moment, neither of them speak, the weight of what had just happened settling over them like a heavy fog. Bianca had lost. She knew it. And Luca had made sure she understood that there was no coming back from this.
Finally, Luca turns, his heart still pounding as he heads for the door. He had come here to end things, and he had done just that. But as he reaches the exit, Bianca’s voice cuts through the silence, filled with bitterness and desperation.
"She’ll never be safe," Bianca spits out, her voice trembling with fury. "No matter what you do, she’ll always be in danger. Because of you."
Luca stops, his hand resting on the door handle as her words sink in. He didn’t turn around, didn’t give her the satisfaction of seeing how much her words affect him. But deep down, a part of him knew she was right. Phoenix would always be in danger, as long as she was with him.
But he would make damn sure that danger never reached her.
Without another word, Luca opened the door and stepped out into the night, leaving Bianca behind. His heart pounded in his chest, a mixture of rage, fear, and determination swirling inside him. He had done what needed to be done, glancing towards his right he nods at the man standing near the door as he continues to walk towards the car.
Today was the end of Bianca’s threats, the end of her obsession, today she was dealt with.
But now the real challenge lay ahead—keeping Phoenix safe, no matter the cost.
When Luca returned to the penthouse later that night, Phoenix was waiting for him. The moment he walked through the door, she rushed to him, her arms wrapping around him as she buried her face in his chest.
"Is it over?" she whispers, her voice trembling.
Luca holds her close, his arms wrapping tightly around her as he presses a kiss to the top of her head. "It’s over," he assures softly. "She won’t be coming after you again."
Phoenix let out a shaky breath, relief flooding through her as she clings to him. She had been so afraid that something terrible would happen, that Luca wouldn’t come back. But now, standing in his arms, she felt a sense of peace wash over her.
"Thank you," she whispers, her voice thick with emotion. "Thank you for protecting us."
Luca tightens his hold on her, his heart swelling with love.