Chapter 7 The Truth in His Eyes

The hum of the engine was the only sound in the enclosed space as Luca's black SUV cut through the winding roads outside Milan. The silence between him and Elena had stretched for miles, heavy with unspoken questions.

She sat tense beside him, her hands clenched on her lap, staring out at the vast, moonlit countryside. The tension wasn't just from fear anymore-it was from anticipation. She could feel something shifting between them.

"Where are you taking me?" she finally asked, her voice quiet but firm.

Luca didn't look away from the road. "Somewhere safe."

"You keep saying that," she replied, turning to face him, "but you never explain anything. Why me? Why do they want me dead?"

He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he slowed the car and pulled off the road into a private driveway leading to a secluded villa nestled among the trees. Security lights flickered on, casting a golden glow over the cobblestone path as they approached. Elena's breath caught in her throat.

"You brought me to a mansion?" she asked in disbelief.

"It's a safe house," he said curtly. "No one knows about it but me and Nico."

The villa was stunning, surrounded by high walls and thick woods, completely isolated. Luca led her inside, flicking on the lights to reveal sleek, minimalist decor-cold steel and warm wood tones. But despite the beauty of the space, Elena's nerves didn't ease. She turned to face him as he locked the door behind them.

"Talk to me, Luca. I deserve to know."

He hesitated, then sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You're right. Sit down."

She followed him into the living room, where they both sat on opposite ends of a long leather sofa. He looked at her, the hardness in his eyes softening.

"You're not just some journalist who got too close to a story," he began. "You're connected to this world more than you know."

Her brows furrowed. "What are you talking about?"

"Your father, Elena. You think he died in a car accident when you were twelve. But that wasn't the full story."

She froze. "What do you mean?"

"He was an informant. For the government. Embedded in the Valente crime family."

Elena's heart pounded. Her mind reeled. "That's not possible. He worked for a shipping company."

"That was the cover," Luca said grimly. "He was gathering intel. And when the Valentes found out... they made sure it looked like an accident. Your mother fled the country with you. Changed her name. Went into hiding."

Elena shook her head, tears threatening. "My mother never told me. Why would she hide something like that?"

"To protect you."

Luca leaned forward. "And now, the Valentes have discovered who you really are. They want to erase the last Rossi. You're a threat to their legacy."

She stood up, pacing. "This is insane. I just wanted to write about corruption... I didn't ask for any of this!"

"I know," he said quietly.

There was a long pause. Elena turned back to him, her voice trembling. "And what about you? Why do you care what happens to me?"

Luca rose, his towering presence suddenly too close. His voice was low, hoarse. "Because I feel something I shouldn't. I don't want you dead. I want to protect you-even from myself."

Her breath hitched as he stepped closer. "I know what I am, Elena. A killer. A man with blood-stained hands. But when I look at you... I feel human again."

Her pulse raced. She should've backed away. Instead, she looked into his storm-gray eyes and whispered, "Then show me you're still human."

He cupped her face, hesitating for a heartbeat. Then their lips met. It was a kiss born of tension and fire, their pain and longing colliding. Her fingers tangled in his shirt as his hand slid around her waist, pulling her closer. The world outside the villa ceased to exist.

But just as suddenly, the moment shattered.

A phone rang.

Luca broke the kiss, his expression hardening. He strode to the phone and answered. "Nico?"

Elena watched as his jaw clenched.

"Say that again," he growled.

He hung up and turned to her, eyes dark.

"We have a problem."

"What is it?" she asked, breathless.

"Someone leaked your location. This place isn't safe anymore."

"But you said-"

"Someone betrayed me."

The weight of his words sank in. Luca grabbed his gun from a hidden compartment and handed her a smaller pistol. She looked at it in shock.

"I-I don't know how to use this."

"I'll teach you," he said, voice cold and steady. "Because if they breach the perimeter, you'll need to defend yourself."

Elena's hands shook as she took the weapon. She wasn't just a bystander anymore. She was part of this twisted, bloody world now.

As they secured the villa, Elena's mind spun. Who could have betrayed Luca? Was it Nico? Or someone inside the Moretti syndicate?

They moved quickly, disabling outside lights, checking escape routes. Tension wrapped around them like a noose. But even in the chaos, Luca never left her side.

Hours passed in tight silence. Eventually, they barricaded the main door and set up temporary surveillance.

Elena collapsed onto the couch, exhausted. Luca sat beside her, watching the security monitors.

"You didn't have to kiss me," she said quietly. "You could've walked away."

He turned to her. "I've done a lot of things I regret. That won't be one of them."

She gave a tired laugh, eyes softening. "I don't know whether to hate you or trust you."

"Then do both," he said. "Just stay alive."

Outside, headlights flickered through the trees.

Luca stiffened.

"They're here."

He reached for his gun and motioned for her to follow him to the back exit. Elena's heart thudded. Everything had changed. Her past was no longer a mystery-it was a target on her back.

But even as gunfire echoed in the distance, she realized something else.

She wasn't running alone anymore.

She had Luca. And if she survived this night, nothing would ever be the same.