LUCA 24
For the first time in what felt like months, there was a sense of peace in Phoenix’s life. Luca had kept his promise, ensuring that the dangers of his world stayed far away from her and their unborn child. And now, as she stands at the edge of their vast new property, the rolling hills stretching out before her, Phoenix felt like she could finally breathe.
The country home was a dream. Set deep in the countryside, far from the chaos of Palermo, it was surrounded by acres of land, with thick woods providing natural cover and a sense of isolation. The house itself was stunning—a sprawling estate with high ceilings, expansive windows, and a warmth that felt like home the moment Phoenix stepped inside.
Luca had surprised her with it a few weeks after their confrontation with Bianca, knowing that Phoenix needed a place where she could feel safe, where they could start their family without the constant threat of his enemies hanging over them.
But even here, in the peaceful countryside, Luca hadn’t taken any chances. Guards were stationed discreetly around the property, their presence felt but rarely seen. It was a fortress disguised as a haven—a place where Luca knew his family would be protected at all times.
And now, as Phoenix runs her hand over her growing belly, she smiles to herself, imagining the life they were building. She could already picture the nursery she would decorate for their baby, the laughter that would fill these walls. It was a future she hadn’t dared to hope for, but now that it was here, she felt a deep sense of gratitude.
Inside the house, Phoenix had already begun planning for the baby’s arrival. The room that would become the nursery was bright and airy, with large windows that let in soft, natural light. Phoenix had spent the last few days looking through catalogues, picking out furniture, and imagining how the space would look once it was finished.
She sat on the floor, her back propped up by pillows, flipping through another catalogue of cribs and baby bedding. Her heart fluttered with excitement as she looks at all the possibilities, imagining what their little one would be like. Would it be a boy or a girl? She still didn’t know, but Luca had been asking her that same question every night as they lay in bed, dreaming about their future.
Luca had been spending most of his time working from the home office in the country house, which meant they were together almost all the time now. It was a new kind of normal, one Phoenix cherished. He was still very much in control of his empire, but he had delegated much of the day-to-day business to Miguel and Gabriel his most trusted men. When Luca did have to go into the city for meetings, Phoenix missed him fiercely, but she knew it was necessary.
As Phoenix picked up her phone to take pictures of some nursery ideas to show Luca later, she heard footsteps approaching. She looks up and smiles as one of the guards, Marco, walks into the room. Marco had been stationed at the house for weeks, and in that time, he had become a friendly presence—someone Phoenix felt comfortable around. He was young, probably in his late twenties, with an easy-going personality that makes him approachable. Unlike many of Luca’s soldiers, who kept their distance and maintained a strict professionalism, Marco had a way of making her feel at ease.
“Everything okay, Mrs. Tempo?” Marco asks with a warm smile as he leans casually against the doorframe.
Phoenix nods, returning his smile. Even though she wasn’t married to Luca, most of his men insisted on calling her Mrs. Tempo. “Yes, everything’s fine. Just planning the nursery,” she replies, holding up the catalogue. “I think Luca’s going to have a heart attack when he sees how many options there are for cribs.”
Marco chuckles, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “I’m sure the boss will handle it just fine. But if you ask me, he’s going to spoil that baby rotten.”
Phoenix laughs, shaking her head. “I’m afraid you’re right.”
For a few moments, they chat casually about the nursery, and Marco even offers some suggestions based on what he had seen with his own nieces and nephews. Phoenix appreciates the light-hearted conversation—it made the house feel less like a guarded fortress and more like a home.
But just as Marco was about to leave, Miguel appears in the doorway, his expression dark and unreadable. Phoenix notices the tension immediately, the way Miguel’s eyes flicker from her to Marco with barely concealed irritation.
“Marco,” Miguel calls, his voice low and firm. “You’ve got your rounds to finish.”
Marco stiffens slightly, his smile fading as he nods. “Yes, sir.”
As Marco leaves the room, Phoenix frowns, sensing something was off. She turns to Miguel, her eyebrows raised in confusion.
“What was that about?” she asks, crossing her arms.
Miguel hesitates, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looks at her. “You need to be careful, Phoenix.”
Phoenix blinks caught off guard by the warning in his tone. “Careful? What do you mean?”
Miguel takes a step closer, his voice low as he speaks. “Marco’s friendly, I get it. But Luca... Luca doesn’t handle things like that well. If he sees one of his men getting too close to you—especially now, with the baby coming—he’ll lose his shit. And Marco... he’s not helping his case.”
Phoenix’s heart skips a beat, her chest tightening with unease. She hadn’t thought much of Marco’s friendliness—it had seemed harmless. But now, hearing Miguel’s warning, she realized how Luca might interpret things.
“You think Luca would—” Phoenix started, but Miguel cut her off.
“I know Luca,” Miguel says firmly. “He’s possessive. You know that. And with everything that’s happened... he’s on edge. I’m just telling you to be careful. Marco’s a good guy, but if Luca thinks for a second that something’s off, it won’t end well.”
Phoenix swallows hard, her heart racing as she processes Miguel’s words. She knew Luca could be possessive—she had seen it before. But the idea of him losing control, of doing something drastic because of a misunderstanding, scared her.
“I’ll talk to Marco,” Phoenix replies quietly, her voice filled with resolve. “I don’t want Luca to get the wrong idea.”
Miguel nods, his expression softening slightly. “Good. Just... keep things in check. For everyone’s sake.”
That evening, as Phoenix and Luca sit together in the cozy living room, the fire crackling softly in the hearth, Luca leans over and kisses her on the forehead. He had been working all day in his home office, and now, as they sit together in the quiet of their country sanctuary, he can finally relax.
“I’ve been thinking,” Luca confesses, his voice low and warm.
Phoenix glances up at him, smiling. “About what?”
“About you,” he says with a grin. “And the baby.”
Phoenix raises an eyebrow, her heart fluttering at the mention of their baby. “Oh? What about us?”
Luca takes her hand in his, his thumb brushing gently over her knuckles. “I want to make sure you have everything you need here. I know the guards are in place, but I want this place to be perfect for you—for us.”
Phoenix’s heart swells with love as she looks at him. Even though Luca’s world was filled with danger and darkness, here, in this house, they had built something beautiful. Something real.
“It already feels perfect,” Phoenix states softly, leaning into him.
Luca smiles, his eyes filled with warmth. “It’s only going to get better.”
The next morning, Phoenix found Marco in the kitchen, finishing up his breakfast before starting his rounds. She approaches him carefully, unsure of how to bring up Miguel’s warning without making things awkward.
“Hey, Marco,” she greets, her voice tentative.
Marco looks up, flashing her his usual easy going smile. “Morning, Mrs. Tempo.”
Phoenix hesitates, biting her lip before speaking. “I just wanted to... I think we should keep things a little more professional going forward. Luca’s protective, and I don’t want to make things difficult for you.”
Marco’s smile falters slightly, and he nods, understanding immediately. “Of course. I get it.”
Phoenix offers him a small smile, feeling a pang of guilt for having to distance herself from someone who had been so kind. “Thank you.”
Marco smiles back, his tone light. “Hey, no worries. I’m here to do my job.”
As he leaves the kitchen, Phoenix feels a sense of relief. She had handled it, and now there was no risk of Luca misunderstanding the situation. But deep down, she knew the peace they had found here in the countryside was fragile. The dangers of Luca’s world were always lurking, just out of sight.
And as much as Phoenix wanted to believe they could stay safe here, she knew that nothing was ever truly certain.
The following days felt different for Phoenix. Ever since Miguel’s warning about Marco, she had been walking on eggshells. What had once been casual, friendly interactions now felt loaded with tension. It wasn’t that Marco had done anything wrong—he had always been respectful, never crossing any lines—but now, with Miguel’s words echoing in her mind, Phoenix couldn’t shake the sense that Luca’s possessiveness could turn everything upside down in an instant.
She had tried to talk to Marco, to set clearer boundaries, but despite his understanding response, the awkwardness remained. Every time Marco smiled at her or made a friendly comment, Phoenix found herself overanalysing his intentions, wondering if Luca would read too much into their interactions. She hated feeling this way—nervous in her own home, on edge around someone who had been nothing but kind to her.
But as the days passed, the tension only grew.
Phoenix was in the garden, tending to the small flower bed she had planted near the back porch. It was one of the things she loved about the country house—the space, the fresh air, the chance to focus on something simple and peaceful. She had spent the morning planning out where to plant herbs and flowers, trying to create a relaxing environment where she could spend time once the baby arrived.
As she knelt down, digging her hands into the soil, she heard footsteps approaching. Looking up, she saw Marco walking toward her, his usual easy smile in place. Phoenix felt a pang of anxiety in her chest, but she forced herself to smile back.
“Morning, Mrs. Tempo,” Marco greets, stopping a few feet away. “Looks like you’re building quite the garden here.”
Phoenix wipes her hands on her jeans, trying to keep the conversation light. “Yeah, I thought it would be nice to have some flowers around when the baby comes. Something peaceful.”
Marco nods, his gaze flicking to the growing baby bump Phoenix was starting to show. “That’s great. You’re going to be a wonderful mother.”
The compliment caught her off guard, and Phoenix felt her cheeks flush slightly. “Thank you,” she murmurs, not sure how to respond.
For a moment, they stand in silence, the awkwardness hanging between them like a heavy cloud. Marco shifts his weight from one foot to the other, clearly sensing the tension but not quite sure what to do about it.
“I wanted to apologize again if I made things weird the other day,” Marco says suddenly, his voice quieter. “I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
Phoenix blinks, her heart racing as she recalls Miguel’s warning. She hadn’t wanted Marco to feel guilty or awkward, but now she realizes the situation was more complicated than she’d thought. She didn’t want to push him away entirely, but she knew she had to keep a certain distance.
“You didn’t make me uncomfortable,” Phoenix assures quickly, trying to diffuse the situation. “It’s just... Luca is protective. He doesn’t mean to be, but you know how he is. I don’t want him to misunderstand anything.”
Marco’s face softens, and he nods. “Yeah, I get it. Luca’s a good guy, but I know how he can be about his family.”
Phoenix feels a wave of relief wash over her at Marco’s understanding, but the tension doesn’t disappear. It was still there, lurking beneath the surface, making every interaction feel like a balancing act.
“I’m just trying to be careful,” Phoenix adds softly, her fingers digging into the soft dirt. “For everyone’s sake.”
Marco gives her a reassuring smile. “I get it. I’ll give you some space.”
As he turns to walk away, Phoenix exhales a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. But as she watches him go, she can’t shake the feeling that the situation wasn’t as simple as it seemed. Marco was friendly, kind even, but the boundaries between them had become blurry, and she wasn’t sure how to navigate them without making things worse.
That afternoon, she was trying to distract herself from the growing tension between her and Marco, but every time she heard footsteps or caught a glimpse of one of the guards patrolling the property, her thoughts circled back to the conversation in the garden.
Just as Phoenix began to relax, she heard the sound of the front door opening. Looking up, she saw Miguel entering the house, his expression serious as always. He nods at her in greeting before making his way toward Luca’s office, but as he passes, his gaze lingers on her.
“Everything alright?” Miguel asks, his tone casual but laced with curiosity.
Phoenix hesitates, unsure how much she should share. She didn’t want to cause unnecessary drama, but she also couldn’t shake the feeling that Miguel was keeping a close eye on her interactions with Marco.
“Everything’s fine,” Phoenix says, forcing a smile. “Just... settling in.”
Miguel studies her for a moment longer before nodding. “Good. You’ve been spending a lot of time with Marco, huh?”
Phoenix’s stomach twists, and she feels her heartbeat quicken. “Not really,” she replies quickly. “He’s just around a lot. You know, doing his job.”
Miguel’s eyes narrow slightly, and he crosses his arms, his voice dropping to a more serious tone. “Phoenix, I told you to be careful. Luca trusts you, but that doesn’t mean he’s going to be happy if he sees one of his men getting too close to you.”
“I’m not doing anything wrong,” Phoenix snaps, her frustration bubbling to the surface. “Marco is just being friendly.”
Miguel raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by her response. “Friendly or not, Luca won’t see it that way.”
Phoenix opens her mouth to argue, but the words caught in her throat. She knew Miguel was right—Luca wouldn’t take kindly to any man showing Phoenix more than professional respect, especially now that she was pregnant with his child. Luca’s possessiveness was one of the things Phoenix loved about him, but it also terrified her sometimes. She didn’t want to be the cause of any conflict, but she also didn’t want to live in fear of every conversation she had with someone who wasn’t Luca.
“I’ll be careful,” Phoenix said quietly, her voice filled with resolve.
Miguel nods, his expression softening slightly. “Good. I don’t want to see anything happen, Phoenix. Not to you, and not to Marco. Just... keep your distance.”
The next few days passed with a quiet tension. Phoenix continued to keep her interactions with Marco to a minimum, but it was clear that he had noticed the shift. He no longer lingered around the house as much, sticking to his rounds and avoiding unnecessary conversation. Phoenix appreciated the space, but the awkwardness hung over them like a cloud.
One afternoon, as Phoenix was sitting on the back porch, enjoying the warmth of the sun on her skin, she spotted Marco in the distance, walking along the edge of the property. He glanced in her direction, his expression unreadable, but he didn’t approach. Phoenix’s heart clenched slightly—she didn’t want to alienate him, but the tension between them had become unavoidable.
Just as Phoenix was about to stand and head back inside, Luca appears, stepping out onto the porch and wrapping his arms around her from behind. He presses a soft kiss to the top of her head, his presence instantly calming her nerves.
“How’s my favourite girl?” Luca murmurs, his voice filled with warmth.
Phoenix smiles, leaning back into him. “Better now that you’re here.”
Luca’s hands rest on her belly, gently rubbing in slow circles as they stand together, watching the sun set over the hills. For a brief moment, Phoenix felt completely at peace, wrapped in Luca’s embrace, the future they were building together feeling more real than ever.
But even as she relaxes into him, her thoughts drift back to Marco—and to the warning Miguel had given her. She knew Luca hadn’t noticed anything yet, but the possibility of his jealousy being triggered was always there, lurking just beneath the surface.
“Everything okay?” Luca asks, sensing her tension.
Phoenix nods, forcing a smile. “Yeah, just... thinking.”
Luca’s arms tighten around her, his voice dropping to a soft, protective murmur. “You don’t need to worry about anything, Phoenix. I’ve got everything under control.”
Phoenix swallows hard, her heart racing. She wasn’t sure if she should tell Luca about Miguel’s warning, about the tension with Marco. But as she stands there, safe in Luca’s arms, she decided to keep it to herself for now. The last thing she wants is to make things worse.
“I know,” she whispers, her voice filled with love. “I trust you.”
The peace that had settled over the country house was fragile—more fragile than Phoenix wanted to admit. Although things had been calm between her and Luca since Miguel’s warning, she could sense the tension in the air. Luca had been spending more time at home, watching over her, making sure the house was secure, and taking every precaution to protect their growing family. But the weight of his world was never far away.
It was late afternoon, and Luca had just returned from a meeting in Palermo. Phoenix was sitting on the back porch, her hands resting on her growing belly as she enjoyed the last few moments of sunlight. She had been feeling more settled recently, finding comfort in the routine of planning for the baby and spending quiet moments with Luca.
Phoenix first realized something was wrong when one of the guards came to escort her back inside. But when she turned toward the house, a hand clamps over her mouth, muffling her scream.
It happened so fast. The sky blurred as she was dragged backward, the scent of earth and sweat filling her nose. She kicks and thrashes, but the grip on her tightens, and before she can fully register what was happening, she was thrown into the back of a van.
Her heart races with panic as she tries to fight back, her blood running cold.
A man is staring down at her with a twisted smile, his eyes filled with something dark and dangerous.
“No!” Phoenix gasps, trying to push herself up, but her body is trembling with fear.
The man kneels, his hand brushing a strand of hair from her face “Don’t worry, I’m not going to hurt you.” he promises.
Phoenix’s stomach twists, panic surging through her as she realizes the depth of trouble she’s in.