The cold wind of Virenkai swirled around Donato’s unconscious body like a snake curling for a final strike.
Enzo stood tall, staring down at him.
Unmoving, bleeding, and powerless.
A slow, sinister smile formed on Enzo’s lips as he knelt beside Donato. His fingers reached out and brushed the blood-streaked shirt, then carefully slid the black book from under his chest.
"Who’s the master now?" Enzo said.
He rose, flipping the book once in his hand, fingers tracing the forbidden emblem on the cover like it was a trophy.
"Who’s the most wanted now, huh?" His voice cracked with cruel excitement. "I’ll be the legend they never saw coming, but sorry I had to betray you but you know what they said... We need to do every possible best to get it.... " Enzo laughed wickedly.
"Let me take my leave now, I hope one one saw me", .. He said to himself and checked around to be sure no body witnessed what he just did.
With a quick glance around the forest shadows, Enzo made a sharp U-turn, disappearing into the darkness like a coward running with the crown.
Luca’s car swerved briefly as pain stabbed sharply into his chest.
He slammed the brake, pulling over near a quiet gas station under the pouring rain.
His hand instinctively flew to his heart.
"What the hell?" he muttered, clutching his chest as beads of sweat formed across his temple.
His vision blurred for a second.
Donato’s face flashed before his eyes.
Could it be my brother is in danger.....? What is this signs for?
"No," Luca muttered to himself, shaking his head.
He snatched his phone and dialed.
Once.... No connection.
Twice... And then voicemail.
Again and it was nothing.
Luca’s jaw tightened. "please ring, Donato..."
But the line remained cold.
He stared at the rain hitting his windshield like tears from a god above. "Maybe... maybe my mind’s just playing tricks."
Still uneasy, he drove off again, the city lights welcoming him like ghosts haunting a returning king.
By the time Luca arrived home, the rain had drenched the streets in a blanket of sorrow.
His tires hissed as they stopped near the mansion’s gate.
But instead of heading into the house where Alessia waited, he made his way else where.
To Bianca’s apartment.
Unseen to him, Alessia had been standing by the window, hands pressed together in prayer.
She had been waiting. Hoping, Fearing and praying.
The moment she saw the familiar black car pull in, her heart leapt.
He’s safe. He’s back. Thank God.
But then... he walked right past the main house.
Straight to Bianca’s place.
The same Bianca who had tried to destroy everything.
Alessia’s breath caught in her throat.
Her eyes followed him like a wounded lover watching a betrayal unfold in real time.
She dropped to her knees.
She lay on the bed, face buried in the pillow, hot angry tears streaming silently.
Prayers turned into curses.
Hope melted into betrayal.
Inside Bianca’s apartment, her phone vibrated.
The caller was seraphina.
She picked up, already smiling.
"Hello, bitch," Seraphina hissed, her voice like venom. "We’re almost done with your job. We’re at the last phase. One final blow to shatter them completely."
Bianca leaned against the wall, half-laughing.
"Hope the documents are ready?".. Seraphina asked .
"Steal them from your ex and give them to me. That’s the deal."
"I know," Bianca snapped. "You don’t have to keep reminding me."
"I do," Seraphina said coldly. "Because I don’t play games with liars."
Then the line went dead.
Bianca immediately dropped the phone just as Luca’s footsteps echoed outside.
A wicked idea lit in her eyes.
She ran to her closet, pulled out the barely-there transparent net gown that left nothing to the imagination, and slid into it.
By the time Luca stepped inside, her nipples were peeking through the fabric and her curves begged to be touched.
"Well, well..." she purred. "You’re back. And you’re not hurt. That’s good. Where’s Donato’s child? I’ve been dying to see that little cutie."
Luca walked past her without smiling and dropped on the bed with a sigh. "It was all a trick."
"Trick?" she repeated, pretending confusion.
He stared at her. "There is no child."
"Then... why would they send.... ?"
"Don’t bother," he cut her off sharply. "It’s none of your business. Just focus on your pregnancy."
"How... how many months are you again?" he asked, his tone suddenly cold.
She stammered, "T-Two months..."
"Hmm. Your stomach is still flat."
She laughed nervously. "Not every woman shows that early, Luca."
He looked away, exhaling. "I only came to check if you’re fine. You complained about sharp pain before I left."
Bianca’s face brightened with hope. "That was sweet of you.... "
"Good night," he said abruptly, standing up.
As Luca climbed the staircase to his room, rain still dripping from his coat, his mind finally drifted where it belonged.
Her face. Her warmth. Her voice calling his name like a lullaby.
Missed her touch, her scent, the fire in her eyes when she was angry, the softness in her body when they made love.
He twisted the doorknob of her room.
"Alessia," he said gently.
She answered with steel. "Go, Luca. Go back to her. I don’t want to see you again."
His jaw clenched. "I didn’t go there for what you think."
"I went to check on her. For sympathy. She claimed she felt pain."
"She was faking it" Alessia shouted from behind the door, her voice cracking with rage. "And you believed her over me. You always do."
"Nothing will make me open that door this night luca, I hate you... Just go. You disgust me "... Alessia said her voice filled with anger.
The emotions were overwhelming, guilt, anger, and longing.
So he turned and walked back to Bianca’s room.
The door creaked as he entered.
But Luca wasn’t looking at her.
His mind was drowning in Alessia’s face, Alessia’s skin, Alessia’s kisses.
He kissed her and he pictured Alessia’s image on her face. It only made me him kiss Bianca more harder and harder.
Not out of desire, but out of fury.
And Out of heartbreak, her dress was undone halfway exposing the delicate slope of her collarbone, the swell of her breast was barely hidden behind lace.
Luca hovered over her, his fingers tangled in her hair, her thigh hooked around his hip, their bodies aligned like a secret ready to be spilled.
Her lips and in between her thighs were wet and parted, whispering his name like it was a plea.
His mouth traced her jaw, down her throat, tongue flicking just above her pulse where he felt her heartbeat gallop.
They breathed each other in.
She moaned when his palm slid up her leg, when his thumb brushed over her inner thigh, and he growled low against her skin, caught between control and surrender.
Bianca tore off his shirt. He ripped her gown. Her breasts spilled into his hands as he caress it softly.
She moaned with pleasure, mistaking it for desire.
But Luca’s eyes were closed.
And all he saw was Alessia.
Bianca quickly position her backside for Luca to slide into and he was about to slide into her , when....
He froze and Pulled away.
His hand reached for his boxers and adjusted his huge dick back inside.
Then he turned on his side on the bed, away from her.
There was silent, A dead silence.
"One day you will beg me for what I’m dying to give you, luca "... She voiced out of pain and frustration.
Bianca stared at the ceiling, confused and disappointed.
She tried to use her hand to touch luca but he quickly removed her hands.
"Am I not attractive enough?" she asked, voice barely audible.
"Also remember my body carrying our baby, our child, your own blood, need to have this intimacy. I can’t stay all my pregnancy journey without been intimate with my baby daddy"... She was making sure she sounded to emotional to lure luca to do what she wants.
But Luca had already fallen asleep with his dreams filled with a woman who wasn’t even in the room. "Alessia"...
Donato’s fingers twitched.
Then his eyes snapped open.
Blood stuck to his lashes. His head spun.
"What... what happened?"
He groaned, trying to sit up. His ribs ached. His leg wouldn’t move.
He reached under his shirt...
The black book... he searched for it but it seems..... Gone.
His eyes widened in horror. "Enzo... He took it?", "He hit me and took a book he had no business with?".... He said to himself.
Donato tried to reach for his shoe, but his hand trembled.
Another man lay a few feet away.
Blood seeping from the side of his skull.
Donato dragged himself closer and looked into the man’s face.
Same face, same blood and same torn shirt.
Donato stared and frozen.
"What... what is this?"