Chapter 293 37

Chapter 293 37
Reyna POV

The attack happens fast, too fast. One minute Ana and I are stepping out of Bianca's old apartment block to help her with her moving to her fiance's penthouse, the next there's shouting, glass breaking, and Luca is pulling me down against him. My heart slams in my chest as the world tilts sideways.

Gunfire rings out and it's sharp and merciless, and I can feel the heat of Luca's body shielding mine. He doesn't even hesitate. He's already up, firing back, his face set hard.

I catch a glimpse of the man aiming for me, and my blood runs cold. It's not a stranger. It's the last of the triplets, the only one who escaped after the boutique massacre,

And then Luca shoots him. Three quick shots. No hesitation, no falter. He drops instantly.

The world goes silent. I'm frozen, staring at the body. Hopefully the last of the rats in Dante's network.

Luca lowers the gun, breathing rough, and when his eyes meet mine, something shifts inside me. It isn't fear. It isn't horror. It's the sinking realization that this is what he'll do for me. That this is how far he'll go to protect me.

Later, at his apartment, I can't stop shaking. My dress is torn from the fight, my hair is a mess, and Luca's shirt is streaked with blood. He doesn't say anything at first, just paces like he's trying to burn off the rage that's still simmering in him.

Finally, he stops in front of me.

"You see why I told you to stay out of this?" His voice is low, controlled, but his hands clench at his sides. "You could have died today, Reyna."

My throat tightens, but I force the words out. "And what about you? You stood in front of me like...like my life was worth more than yours. Do you know what it felt like watching you pull that trigger? Knowing you'd do it again if it meant I walked out alive?"

His jaw tics. He doesn't answer right away.

I push up from the couch, standing close enough to feel his heat. "You can't keep carrying all of this alone, Luca. You think I don't know who you are? You think I haven't seen the man underneath all that control?"

He shakes his head, frustrated. "You don't get it. Being with me means this. Blood. Enemies. Violence. I'll kill for you again and again if I have to. You should hate me for it."

I swallow hard, tears stinging my eyes, but I don't back down. I touch his chest, right over his heart. "Then I'll hate you here. Because I'm not leaving."

Something cracks in him then. His hand catches the side of my face, his forehead pressing against mine, his breath harsh. "You'll be the death of me."

"Maybe," I whisper, "but I'll be yours too."

And then his mouth crashes against mine.

It's different this time, we don't rush, and we are not as desperate as before. It's raw, yes, but softer too, like neither of us wants to let go, like we can see that this thing we share, despite the guns, enemies, violence. This is permanent.

Our clothes fall away, our fingers linger, and by the time he lifts me into his arms, I'm already lost in him.

We make love slow at first, careful, his hands everywhere, his lips mapping every inch of me. But it builds, heat rising, pulling us both under until there's nothing left but us. No enemies. No blood. No betrayal. Just Luca and me, finally giving in completely.

After, I lie against his chest, our breaths tangled, his hand stroking lazy circles against my back. For the first time, I feel like I belong somewhere. With him.

"I love you," I whisper into the quiet.

His chest rises sharply beneath me. Then, softer than I've ever heard him, "I love you too."

I don't remember falling asleep, but I wake when his phone buzzes on the nightstand. Luca stirs beside me, reaching for it. His whole body goes still.

I sit up, dread already clawing at me. "What is it?"

He shows me the screen.

A message. Short. Final.

"Next target: Reyna."

The warmth in my chest chills instantly. Our love may be real, but so is the danger waiting outside these walls.

And now... it's coming for me.