31: Promises Meant to Break

31: Promises Meant to Break
When the devil comes knocking, even the king of monsters has to answer.

Luca’s POV:

A Warning I Can’t Ignore

The second I saw Gregor’s name on my phone, the warmth from Isabella’s body turned to ice in my veins.

"Deliver her—or we will."

The Elders never bluffed. And I’d already pushed them too far.

I wanted to believe I could protect her—that the blood oath was enough to keep her safe.

But the longer Isabella stayed with me, the more her power grew—and the harder it became to hide her.

And now?

I was out of time.

Her soft breath brushed against my chest as she stirred, shifting closer in her sleep.

She had no idea what kind of monster she was tangled up with.

Or just how much danger I’d put her in.

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A Choice That Will Destroy Us

I tightened my grip on Isabella’s waist as she stretched against me, her bare skin warm beneath my touch.

She murmured something drowsy and sweet before pressing a lazy kiss to my chest.

"You’re tense," she whispered, her fingers brushing over my jaw. "What’s wrong?"

Everything.

But I couldn’t tell her that.

Couldn’t tell her that Gregor’s patience was wearing thin.

Couldn’t tell her that the Elders didn’t make threats. They made examples.

And if she knew the truth—if she knew that I’d already given them a piece of her to buy time—

She’d never forgive me.

My silence stretched too long.

Isabella lifted her head, studying me with those sharp, dark eyes that always saw too much.

"Luca?" she prompted, a small crease forming between her brows.

I forced a smirk, shifting so that our bodies pressed together beneath the sheets.

"You don’t need to worry about anything," I said softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

Her lips parted, but she didn’t respond right away.

I felt it then—her hesitation.

A thread of doubt curling through our bond like smoke.

She didn’t trust me.

Not completely.

And soon, that crack between us would break wide open.

Isabella’s POV:

A Promise That Feels Like a Lie

Luca’s kiss should have calmed me.

Instead, it made the knot in my stomach twist tighter.

He was hiding something.

I could feel it in the way his body tensed beneath me. The way his lips softened—but his eyes stayed cold.

I should have pushed. Should have demanded answers.

But I didn’t.

Because the truth?

I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear them.

So instead, I leaned in, trailing my fingers down his chest.

"Take me out tonight," I murmured, my voice deliberately soft.

Luca raised a brow. "You want to go out?"

I nodded, tracing slow circles over his stomach. "I want to feel normal for a little while. No monsters. Just us."

His jaw ticked, his fingers tightening slightly on my hip.

I half-expected him to refuse.

To keep me caged in his world of shadows, where no one could touch me—except him.

But then, after a beat, he exhaled.

"Anything for you, dolcezza."

But something in his voice felt too easy—too much like a lie.

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Hours later, we stepped into Le Rouge, one of the city’s most exclusive restaurants.

I felt the weight of a hundred eyes on me as Luca led me to a private table, his hand resting possessively on the small of my back.

He liked to show me off.

Liked the way people stared—but never dared to approach.

I wore a black silk dress, the slit dangerously high, and I could feel his gaze burning over my skin as we settled into the booth.

"You’re stunning," he murmured, his fingers ghosting over my thigh beneath the table.

A shiver rolled through me.

But even as his touch sent sparks through my veins, my mind wouldn’t stop spinning.

Why was he suddenly being so… perfect?

And what was he hiding behind those silver eyes?

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The Devil Always Knocks Twice

Halfway through dinner, his phone buzzed.

I felt the shift in him immediately.

Saw the flicker of panic in his eyes before he masked it with a smooth smile.

"Ignore it," he said, lifting my hand to his lips, kissing my knuckles softly.

But I couldn’t.

Because when I glanced down—

The screen flashed with another message.

And this one made my blood run cold.

"Dante: Miss me, Bella?"