Chapter 234 Chapter 234.

Chapter 234 Chapter 234.
Luca. 

I walked toward the car with my hands tucked into my pockets, my jaw tight, my head still loud with everything that had happened, but the noise inside me needed somewhere to go. If I stayed still for too long, I knew exactly where my mind would run to, and I refused to let it drag me back there again.

“How many rats do we have to hunt down?”

Jun stayed a step behind me. 

“About five. They got bold last week. Tried to rob the club like they had a death wish and somehow slipped out before we could deal with them properly.”

A slow grin stretched across my face, something dark settling into my chest.

“Then tonight might actually be worth something. I need a distraction anyway. You coming with me or are you planning to sit this one out?”

Jun walked past me and opened the driver’s door, giving me a look that already carried hesitation.

“I am not sure this is a good idea right now. You know we are supposed to keep things quiet until Smith is sentenced. The last thing we need is unnecessary attention.”

I dropped into the passenger seat and leaned back, turning my head toward him with a raised brow.

“I am not making an announcement. Nobody is going to know anything unless you plan on inviting the press. Just drive me to their houses.”

He exhaled through his nose, shaking his head like he already knew arguing with me was pointless.

“Fine. Boss. As you wish.”

The engine started, and the car rolled forward, but my body still felt tense, because something inside me refused to settle. My phone rang in my pocket, sharp and sudden, cutting through everything.

I already knew.

I pulled it out anyway.

Bella.

Her name lit up the screen, and for a second my fingers froze. My chest tightened in a way that had nothing to do with anger, nothing to do with control, just something raw that I did not want to touch.

I turned the phone off.

Not silent. Not ignore.

Off.

I needed quiet. Real quiet.

“Did you just turn your phone off?”

I shrugged, leaning my head back against the seat.

“Yeah. What’s the problem?”

Jun glanced at me briefly before returning his eyes to the road.

“You sure you do not want to hear what she has to say? You might regret shutting her out like that.”

A dry, humorless chuckle left my throat.

“I am not sure she has anything new to say apart from telling me she was scared. I have heard that part already.”

Jun did not let it go.

“I get that she panicked, but think about it for a second. She came back without even knowing the engagement did not happen. She came back because of you. That counts for something. That is not nothing.”

My brows pulled together, irritation rising fast.

“I would really appreciate it if you stop talking about this right now. I am already sick of everything that has happened. Just give me a moment where I do not have to think about her, about us, about anything. Just drive.”

He lifted a hand slightly in surrender.

“Alright. I will drop it.”

Silence filled the car again, but it did not bring peace. It never did. It only made everything louder inside my head.

Her voice.

Her tears.

The way she held onto me like I was the only thing keeping her standing.

I clenched my jaw.

A few minutes passed before Jun spoke again.

“One more thing, and I promise I am done.”

I turned my head sharply, irritation already flaring.

“What now?”

He kept his tone steady.

“Are you actually done with her? I am not trying to convince you of anything. I just want to know if this is really the end for you.”

I closed my eyes.

Done with her.

The idea felt wrong the moment it formed.

No.

Not possible.

She was mine.

My princess.

That did not just end because she made a mistake.

I rubbed my temple slowly before answering.

“No. I am not done. I cannot be done. But she needs to understand something. She cannot keep doing this. She cannot just walk away whenever fear hits her and expect me to stand there and take it like it means nothing.”

My voice hardened without me trying.

“Do you know what went through my head when I did not find her? Do you know how fast everything spiraled? I almost lost it completely. I was already thinking about where to start looking, who to drag out of their holes, what I would have to burn down just to find her. And she thinks she can just run and come back like that is normal? No. That is not something I am brushing off.”

Jun nodded slowly.

“I understand that. That kind of fear does something to you. But be careful how you handle it. You do not want to break the same thing you are trying to protect.”

I shot him a look. “I don’t need your approval.”

He laughed under his breath.

“I am not approving anything. I am just pointing out the obvious. Both of you are a disaster in human form. Toxic, messy, reckless, impatient, obsessed with each other to a level that is not even healthy. It is almost impressive.”

I let out a quiet laugh despite myself.

“You should consider writing a book about us.”

“If I could actually write, I would make a fortune off the chaos you two create.”

The car slowed as we pulled up in front of a small house that looked like it had not been cared for in years. The walls were stained, the windows dull, the whole place giving off a smell before we even stepped inside.

I stepped out and looked at it with clear disgust.

“This is where they hide. No standards. No fear. Just stupidity.”

We walked up to the door, and Jun knocked.

A few seconds later, it opened, revealing a man who looked like he had already lost control of his life long before we showed up.

His eyes moved over us, uncertain, then defensive.

I glanced at Jun.

“This him?”

Jun gave a short nod.

“He is the one leading them.”

The man’s expression shifted instantly.

“Leader? Leader of what? Who the hell are you people? I swear I will scream if you do not get away from my door right now.”

A laugh slipped out of me, low and cold.

“Go ahead. Scream. Let us see who comes to save you.”

Before he could react, Jun kicked him back inside, and I stepped in after him, my eyes scanning the place with growing irritation.

Filthy.

I wanted this done quickly.

The man scrambled backward, panic setting in fast.

“What did I do? Tell me what I did. I do not even know you people.”

I walked toward him slowly, letting every step drag out his fear.

“You really want to know what you did. You walked into something that does not belong to you and thought you would walk out untouched. You tried to rob my club. My place. My people. And the only reason you are still breathing right now is because I was in a deep mess with my woman.”

His breathing became uneven, his body shaking.

“I am sorry. I did not know. It will not happen again. I swear.”

I crouched slightly, staring straight at him.

“Sorry is useless when the damage is already done. You think I came here to hear you apologize and walk away. That is not how this works.”

I straightened and let out a quiet laugh.

“I have been quiet for a while. Too quiet. People like you started thinking it meant something else. That I went soft. That I forgot how to deal with problems.”

I looked down at him, my expression hardening.

“You are about to learn that I did not forget anything.”

He tried to crawl back, but there was nowhere to go.

“Please. I have nothing. I will not come near your place again. Just let me go.”

I tilted my head slightly.

“Stretch your hands on the floor.”

He hesitated for a second, then did it, his hands shaking so badly they barely stayed in place.

I stepped forward and brought my boot down hard.

The sound that followed was sharp enough to echo in the room.

His scream was immediate.

“Shut him up,” I muttered.

Jun stepped in, forcing cloth into his mouth, holding him steady.

I shifted and crushed the other hand the same way, feeling the resistance given under pressure.

His body jerked violently, tears streaming down his face.

I exhaled slowly, watching him.

“You are lucky. You get to be the first reminder.”

I looked around briefly, then back at him.

“What do you have here? Knives, forks, pliers, guns, irons.”

He shook his head frantically, unable to speak.

I crouched in front of him again, my voice dropping, controlled, dangerous.

“Look at me and understand this clearly. You picked the wrong place. You picked the wrong people. And now you are going to carry that mistake in a way that makes sure nobody else tries it again.”

“I will make sure to carve your eyes out with your fork and make you gag on it. Then you will drink your pee. When I’m done with you, you will beg for death.”