Chapter 5 The Devil's Deal

The estate's labyrinthine hallways stretched endlessly in front of Lily, and every twist and turn only deepened her sense of disorientation. The shadows seemed to whisper around them, the muffled sounds of distant footsteps serving as a constant reminder of the danger stalking her. Luca walked ahead of her with purpose, his movements smooth and silent. He barely glanced back, his broad shoulders set with the kind of confidence that came from knowing the house-and the people in it belonged to him.

Lily, by contrast, felt anything but confident. Her clutch bag felt heavy in her hands, the weight of the flash drive hidden within it a reminder of how close she'd come to being caught. Even now, she wasn't sure why Luca had decided to help her-or if she could even trust him. He could be leading her deeper into danger for all she knew. And yet, there was something about him-his quiet control, his piercing gaze-that made it impossible to look away.

"We're not far," Luca said, his voice low enough to make the words feel almost conspiratorial.

Lily quickened her pace to walk beside him, her pulse still racing. "Not far from where?" she whispered, her tone sharper than she intended. "What's your plan, Luca?"

He glanced at her, his dark eyes narrowing slightly. "My plan is to keep you alive," he said simply, as if it were the most logical thing in the world.

She scoffed, though the sound lacked conviction. "Right. Because you're just the selfless type?"

Luca stopped abruptly, and Lily nearly ran into him. He turned to face her, his expression unreadable but charged with something she couldn't quite name. "You think I want to do this?" he asked, his tone calm but laced with an undercurrent of tension. "You're a liability, Lily-"

Her breath caught at the sound of her real name leaving his lips. "How did you-"

"-and liabilities get people killed," he continued, cutting her off. He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming as his dark gaze bore into hers. "But for some reason I can't explain, I haven't handed you over to my men. So don't question my motives."

Lily's chest tightened, her fingers trembling as she clutched her bag tighter. "You don't know anything about me," she said, her voice trembling but defiant.

"I know enough," Luca said, his voice softer now, though it didn't lose its edge. "I know you're reckless. I know you're brave, maybe stupidly so. And I know you've got something in that bag that you shouldn't."

Lily's heart pounded as his words hit too close to home. "I'm not here to hurt anyone," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

He tilted his head, his lips curving into a faint, humorless smile. "No, you're just here to destroy everything I've spent my life building," he said. "But you're not as clever as you think. This isn't just a story, Lily. You don't understand the consequences."

"Then help me understand," she shot back, surprising herself with the force in her voice. "If I'm so wrong, then show me the truth."

The silence that followed was deafening, charged with a tension that made the air feel heavy. Luca's jaw tightened, his gaze dropping briefly before returning to hers. "The truth isn't as simple as you think it is," he said finally, his voice low and almost resigned.

Before Lily could respond, a faint buzz sounded from Luca's jacket pocket. He pulled out his phone, his expression hardening as he read the message flashing across the screen. "We're out of time," he said, slipping the phone back into his pocket. "Come on."

"Out of time for what?" Lily demanded, but Luca had already started moving again, his long strides forcing her to hurry after him.

They turned another corner, and the sound of distant voices grew louder. Lily's stomach churned as she realized they were approaching a larger, more open area of the house. She opened her mouth to protest, to demand an explanation, but before she could speak, Luca stopped abruptly and turned to face her.

"Listen to me," he said, his voice firm but not unkind. "Whatever happens next, you stay behind me. Don't speak unless I tell you to, and don't draw attention to yourself. Understand?"

Lily's heart raced, her instincts screaming at her to run. But something in Luca's gaze-steady, unwavering-made her nod reluctantly. "I understand," she said quietly.

"Good," he said, his lips curving into a faint smirk. "Try not to get us both killed."

Before she could respond, he pushed open a set of heavy wooden doors, leading her into what appeared to be a lavish sitting room. The space was elegant but intimidating, with dark wood paneling and leather armchairs arranged around a roaring fireplace. Several men stood scattered throughout the room, their sharp suits and cold gazes immediately marking them as Castellano enforcers. Lily's stomach twisted as their eyes flicked to her, their expressions unreadable.

At the center of the room stood a man she hadn't seen before-a tall, broad-shouldered figure with salt-and-pepper hair and piercing blue eyes. He exuded authority, his very presence commanding respect and fear. She didn't need an introduction to know who he was: Salvatore Castellano, Luca's father and the head of the Castellano family.

"Luca," Salvatore said, his deep voice carrying effortlessly through the room. "I was beginning to think you wouldn't join us."

Luca stepped forward, his expression calm and composed. "I was delayed," he said simply. "But I'm here now."

Salvatore's gaze shifted to Lily, and she felt an icy chill run down her spine. "And who is this?" he asked, his tone deceptively polite.

"She's with me," Luca said, his voice steady. "A guest."

"A guest?" Salvatore repeated, his tone skeptical. His sharp gaze lingered on Lily, making her feel as though he could see every secret she was trying to hide. "And what exactly brings this... guest to our gathering?"

Lily opened her mouth to respond, but Luca spoke first. "She's under my protection," he said firmly. "That's all you need to know."

The tension in the room was palpable, and Lily's breath caught as Salvatore's expression darkened slightly. The silence stretched uncomfortably, the weight of it pressing down on her chest. Finally, Salvatore nodded, though his eyes remained fixed on her. "Very well," he said. "But don't forget, Luca-your choices carry consequences."

Luca's jaw tightened, but he didn't respond. Instead, he turned to Lily, his hand brushing against hers briefly-a silent reassurance. "Let's go," he said quietly.

Lily didn't argue, following him out of the room and back into the dimly lit hallway. Her mind raced as she tried to process what had just happened. She didn't know what Luca had just risked by bringing her in front of his father, but she had a sinking feeling it wasn't something he could easily undo.

When they were safely out of earshot, she turned to him, her voice trembling with frustration and confusion. "What the hell was that?" she demanded. "You lied to your father for me? Why?"

Luca stopped, his gaze steady as he turned to face her. "Because you're not walking away from this," he said simply. "Not yet."

Before she could respond, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway again, and this time, they were too close to ignore.