Chapter 139 FEAR.
\~~~RAINA.
I sat at my desk, the stack of paperwork towering like a small mountain in front of me. The office was quiet that afternoon, just the hum of the air conditioner and the occasional click of my pen as I signed off on contracts. My mind wandered a bit, but I forced myself to focus as there were budgets to review, and schedules to approve.
Being back in this role felt right, like slipping into an old glove that fit perfectly now. Raina M. Moretti, Chief Operating Officer. It still gave me a quiet thrill every time I thought about it.
The door creaked open, and my assistant poked her head in. She was efficient, always on time, with her notepad clutched like a shield.
“Ms. Moretti, you have that board meeting in about an hour. Should I prepare the slides?” she asked, her voice steady.
I nodded, not looking up right away. “Yes, please. Make sure the projections are highlighted.”
She murmured an acknowledgment and slipped out, closing the door softly behind her.
Alone again, my eyes drifted to the small plaque on my desk, the one with my name etched in gold lettering. It used to say, Talia Moretti, a name that felt like a ghost now, a remnant of the life I'd left behind.
But sometime over the last week, it had been swapped out quietly for Raina M. Moretti. I smiled softly, tracing the letters with my fingertip. It was official, and real. My new beginning, tied to the man who had pulled me through the darkness.
I pulled out my phone, snapped a quick picture of the plaque, and sent it to Luciano with a smiling emoji.
The subordinates around the office must have noticed the change by now but no one dared question me. Not after the whispers about my 'personal matters' and the way Luciano had punished the lady so, they knew better than to pry into the boss's life.
I set the phone down, waiting for his reply, my foot tapping idly under the desk. The screen lit up almost immediately, but before I could check, it rang.
The caller ID flashed, Mom. My stomach twisted, and I swallowed hard.
What could she want now? I cleared my throat, steeling myself, and picked up.
“Mother,” I said, keeping my tone even.
There was a pause on the line, heavy with unspoken tension.
“I know I am probably the last person you want to talk to, but you need to know something.”
“Mother, I am not…”
“Your father is in danger.”
The words hit like a slap. “What?”
“Can we meet up to talk? It's quite a lot, and you need to know the truth now.”
I hesitated, glancing at the clock. The meeting loomed, but this... this sounded urgent. My mind raced. What danger? Dad had always been distant, wrapped up in his own world, but danger?
“Fine,” I said finally. “Meet me near my workplace, at the cafe on Elm Street.”
She agreed immediately, her voice laced with relief. “I will be there.”
I hung up and stared at my phone, the screen going dark. What could be wrong? Dad in danger? It didn't make sense.
I spaced out, my eyes unfocused on the paperwork, thoughts swirling.
Twenty minutes later, I stepped outside the office building, the cool air hitting my face. The cafe was just across the street, a cozy spot with outdoor tables and the smell of fresh coffee wafting out.
I stood on the sidewalk, arms crossed, scanning the traffic. Then I saw her, my mother, hurrying across the street, her coat flapping in the breeze. She looked older than I remembered, lines etched deeper around her eyes, her hair pulled back tightly. She spotted me and waved, but I just nodded, turning to head inside.
I pushed through the door, the bell jingling, and claimed a corner table away from the window. The place was half-empty, a barista wiping counters in the back. I ordered a black coffee to steady my nerves and waited, tapping my fingers on the table. Mom entered a minute later, her steps quick, and slid into the seat across from me.
“What is wrong?” I asked right away, giving no room for pleasantries.
She set her purse down, folding her hands. “How have you been, my dear?”
“Just go straight to the point, Mother. I have a meeting to attend in a few minutes.”
She sighed, her eyes dropping to the table. “Your father is in danger.”
“So you said.’' I leaned forward, impatience building.
“Your husband took him,” she said flatly.
I snapped my brows together and sat upright, the words echoing in my head. “Excuse me?l
She leaned in closer, her voice dropping. “Luciano called for a meeting yesterday. Your father went and said it was business, and something urgent. But before he left the house, he told me to raise an alarm if he didn't come back last night. He hasn't. And I can't reach him, his phone just rings and rings, no answer.”
My heart started pounding, a mix of confusion and rising panic. “And what business would my husband possibly have with him?”
“Oh, you don't know. Do you?”
Her eyes searched mine, sharp and knowing. There was pity there, or maybe regret.
“Know what?” I frowned, my grip tightening on the coffee cup.
She took a breath, like she was bracing herself. “Your father and Luciano have years of history. Long history. He, in fact, married into our family to enact revenge.”
“Re... excuse me? What revenge?” I snapped my brows together, my voice sharper than intended. The cafe noise faded and it was just us now, this bombshell hanging between.
“Luciano seems to believe that your father killed his mother twenty years ago.”
The words slammed into me, stealing my breath. I stared at her, my mouth slightly open, trying to process.
Killed his mother? Twenty years ago? That would make Luciano... What, a teen?
The pieces didn't fit at all.
Not especially with the way he'd looked at me like I was his salvation. Revenge? Against my father?
It couldn't be.
But her face was serious, no hint of a lie.
What the hell was I hearing?
The thought looped in my mind as I sat there, troubled and confused, the world tilting off its axis. My phone buzzed in my pocket but I ignored it.
Nothing made sense anymore.
And once again, fear crept in, not of the world outside, but of the man I loved.
What if my mother was right?
What if Luciano had married me for revenge… and had fallen in love by mistake?
And what if my father really was in danger?
My heart pounded as one terrifying thought took shape.
What if loving Luciano meant losing everything else?