45. Ara
They say love can make you do crazy things. Not that I’m in love with Luca. I refuse to even question it. I did love my mother. I knew going into this there would be no returning from what has to be done, and if I have to destroy another family on the way out then I will happily use Luca as a keynote.
My heart is pounding in my chest. I’m out of my fucking mind and yet I can’t see a clearer path. I’d staked out this club so many times and seen the inside of it that I know I only need a split second of opportunity.
I should feel guilty for what I’m about to do. I don’t.
It’s early hours in the morning and I know no one’s inside. The remaining staff left over an hour ago. I’m wearing activewear for the gym, a hoodie, and a cat mask I only find fitting to oppose Luca’s hounds.
My breath is shaky as I stand in the back alleyway of the club. I only have a small window of opportunity. In an hour one of the security guards would be back. It wasn’t as carefully monitored because the Armani’s don’t conduct business through here. This is the project Luca gave to his little brother, Dario to manage.
And it is about to burn to the ground.
I find it ironic that this was where it all began. Because I was in here provoking the attention of Dario Armani, I found myself in his mansion searching, and instead I drew the attention of another monster.
I’d been here only hours before in completely different attire and disguised in preparation, and now I stand directly beneath the window of the women’s powder room. I climb up onto a dumpster with shoes three sizes too big for me.
I step up to the window, adjust my gloves, and pry it apart slowly. Bingo. The small coin I’d put in the window was still wedged in there to make it appear closed. I open the window and peer into the darkly lit powder room.
Make it catastrophic, Dmitri had said.
I will be the reason for another rift between the brothers and I push down any kind of sentiment. Luca is the enemy and although I got swept up in his games and dance, it didn’t quench my need for revenge or offer any peace. Luca is deluded if he thinks we could be anything more. I am literally going to burn down any chance of that happening.
I pull out the bottle filled with fuel and a cloth hanging out. With a shaky breath I put the lighter to it and throw it in onto the carpet inside. Flames immediately erupt along the carpet. I jump beside the dumpster, my knees giving way as the adrenaline kicks in. I’ve done this. Now all I have to do is run.