Chapter 29 Becoming the bait
Lucas said no immediately.
“No,” he repeated, slower, sharper, like saying it twice might erase the idea from the air.
“Absolutely not.”
Lucy stood across from him in the strategy room, arms crossed, jaw set. Maps and surveillance photos were spread across the table between them, D’Angelo’s name circled in red ink like a curse.
“He’s already watching me,” she said calmly. “I didn’t choose that. But we can use it.”
Lucas dragged a hand through his hair, pacing. “Using it and risking you are not the same thing.”
“They are in this case,” Lucy replied. “And you know it.”
Silence fell heavy between them.
Everyone else in the room silent watching their exchange with interest.
No one would normally stand up or speak out to Lucas, only Matteo could occasionally get away with it and that was never in front of anyone else.
Even Matteo was watching them with interest.
Lucas stood there staring at Lucy and she held his stare, not in a challenging way but more of a determined we win this was way.
"Everyone out" Lucas said firmly.
The room cleared instantly, the tension between the two of them very obvious.
Lucas stopped pacing and faced her, eyes dark with conflict. “Do you have any idea what it would do to me if something happened to you?”
Lucy stepped closer. “Yes,” she said softly.
“Because it would destroy me if someone else got hurt because I was too afraid to act.”
That landed.
Lucas stared at her for a long moment, then exhaled slowly, like someone conceding a battle they hated losing.
“If we do this,” he said finally, “you follow every instruction. No improvising. No heroics.”
She nodded. “I promise.”
He closed the distance between them, resting his forehead against hers. “You’re the bravest person I know,” he murmured. “And I hate that I have to let you do this.”
She smiled faintly. “You’re not letting me. You’re trusting me.”
They stared at each other silent words exchanging and fears expressed.
Then Lucas stepped forward and, in one swift move claimed her lips like they were never going to kiss or breathe ever again.
When he let her go and Lucy came up for air the smile on her face told him everything. They were in this for the long haul and no one was going to stop them. As scary as it felt to her it also felt so very right in every way.
The setup was simple—and dangerous.
Lucy would resume her normal routine. Work. Commute. Meetings. Visible. Predictable.
The Bravata team would be everywhere but unseen.
D’Angelo liked control.
He liked proximity.
He liked to believe he was untouchable.
They would let him believe it. For now.
Lucas monitored everything from the command room, eyes glued to the screens as Lucy walked out of her office building later that afternoon.
Her posture was calm, confident—no sign of the fear she refused to let rule her.
“She’s clear,” one of the techs said.
Lucas didn’t respond. His jaw was clenched so tightly it ached.
Lucy’s phone buzzed as she reached her car.
Unknown Number:
You’re very brave. Or very foolish.
She didn’t reply.
She didn’t need to.
Minutes later, a black sedan pulled out behind her as she drove.
“Got him,” Lucas said quietly. “He’s taking the bait.”
Lucy followed the route exactly as planned—two turns too many, a sudden lane change, a stop at a café she rarely visited.
The sedan followed every move.
Inside her ear, Lucas’s voice was steady, controlled, grounding.
“You’re doing perfect,” he murmured. “Stay on the main road.”
Her pulse raced, but she kept her breathing even. “He wants me isolated.”
“Not happening.”
The sedan finally made its move near the waterfront, pulling alongside her car at a red light.
Lucy didn’t look over.
But her phone buzzed again.
I told you I’d find you.
Lucas’s voice sharpened. “That’s him. Lucy, when the light changes, pull into the parking lot ahead. Slowly.”
She did.
The black sedan followed.
Bravata vehicles closed in from every direction, silent and precise.
The moment Lucy stepped out of her car, Lucas was there—out of nowhere, grabbing her arm and pulling her behind him as guns were drawn and doors slammed.
D’Angelo stepped out of the sedan calmly, impeccably dressed, eyes sharp and amused.
“So,” he said smoothly, gaze flicking from Lucas to Lucy. “This is the woman who caused all this trouble.”
Lucy could feel him staring at her trying to intimidate her but she stood tall and didnt show any fear.
Lucas stepped forward, a wall of fury. “You’re done.”
D’Angelo smiled. “Am I?”
He raised his hand slightly.
And somewhere in the distance, a gunshot rang out.
Lucas turned instantly—
“Lucy!”
She was still standing.
But this—
This wasn’t over.