140
Chapter 140
Lia’s POV
The evening air was thick with tension as I made my way to meet Luca. My heart raced, both from the fear of what had happened earlier and the anticipation of finally sharing everything with someone who might be able to help. Finn’s death, the accusations, the chaos—it all weighed heavily on me, and I needed clarity, answers, and protection.
The narrow path I took was shrouded in darkness, with the faint sound of rustling leaves accompanying my footsteps. A sense of unease crept over me, like eyes were watching me from the shadows. I stopped in my tracks and glanced around, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
“Get a grip, Lia,” I whispered to myself, resuming my walk.
The unease didn’t leave, though. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, and the cool night air seemed to grow colder. Suddenly, a hand clamped over my mouth, stifling my scream as another arm wrapped tightly around my waist, dragging me into the nearby thicket.
“Shh, don’t make a sound,” a voice hissed in my ear.
My heart pounded wildly as I struggled against my captor, but his grip was ironclad. He pushed me against a tree, his face coming into view under the dim moonlight. It was Dean. My breath hitched in shock.
“Dean?” I managed to whisper, my voice trembling.
A sinister smirk spread across his face as he held a gun to my head. “Miss me, Lia? You should have known better than to wander around alone.”
“Let me go!” I spat, trying to push him away. “What do you want?”
“What I’ve always wanted,” he growled, his tone dripping with malice. “You. But first, let’s deal with something else.” His smirk faded, replaced by cold fury. “Do you know how tempting it was to finish you off along with Finn? But no, that would’ve been too easy. I wanted you to see what happens when you cross me.”
The realization hit me like a freight train. “You killed Finn,” I accused, my voice shaking with both fear and anger.
Dean laughed, the sound chilling in its cruelty. “Oh, don’t sound so surprised. Finn was always in the way, but now? Now it’s just you and me.”
I swallowed hard, forcing myself to stay calm despite the panic threatening to consume me. My eyes darted to the gun in his hand. I had to act fast.
With a surge of adrenaline, I twisted my body and slammed my elbow into his side. He grunted in pain, loosening his grip just enough for me to wrestle the gun from his hand. The cold metal felt foreign in my grasp, and my hands shook as I pointed it at him.
“Stay back!” I warned, my voice unsteady.
Dean chuckled darkly, his confidence unshaken. “You don’t even know how to use that thing.”
Before I could respond, he lunged at me. My finger slipped, and the gun fell from my grasp. Dean snatched it up quickly, his smirk returning as he held it up triumphantly.
“Well, that was cute,” he sneered, stepping closer. “But playtime’s over.”
I braced myself for the worst, but instead of pulling the trigger, he backed away. “You’re not worth the bullet... yet. But don’t think this is over, Lia. Not by a long shot.”
With that, he disappeared into the darkness, leaving me shaken and breathless.
It took me a moment to gather myself, my legs trembling as I stumbled out of the thicket. I had to get to Luca. He was the only one who could help now.
When I finally reached Luca’s place, I was a disheveled mess, tears streaming down my face as I banged on his door. He opened it quickly, his expression shifting from confusion to alarm when he saw me.
“Lia, what happened?” he asked, ushering me inside.
“It’s Dean,” I said, my voice breaking. “He followed me, abducted me, and—he confessed. He’s the one who killed Finn.”
Luca’s jaw tightened, his hands balling into fists. “Are you sure?”
I nodded. “He even had a gun. He threatened me... I barely escaped.”
Luca placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. “Listen to me, Lia. You need to go back home and act like nothing happened.”
“What?” I exclaimed, disbelief and frustration bubbling to the surface. “I can’t just pretend—”
“Lia,” he interrupted, his tone firm. “This is bigger than you or me. If Dean’s responsible for Finn’s death, I need to handle this carefully. If he knows you’re onto him, it could get worse.”
I bit my lip, torn between my fear and my trust in Luca. “But what if he comes after me again?”
“I won’t let that happen,” he assured me. “Just trust me, okay? Go home, stay safe, and leave the rest to me.”
Reluctantly, I nodded. “Okay. But please, Luca... don’t let him get away with this.”
“I won’t,” he promised, his voice like steel.
\---
Luca’s POV
After Lia left, I sat in my office, my mind racing. Dean. The name left a bitter taste in my mouth. I had hoped never to deal with him again, but now he was at the center of a storm that threatened to tear everything apart.
I picked up my phone and dialed his number, masking my anger with a carefully controlled tone. He answered on the second ring.
“Dean,” I said, keeping my voice neutral. “It’s been a while.”
There was a pause on the other end before he responded. “Luca. To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“I heard you were back in town,” I said smoothly. “Thought we should catch up.”
Dean chuckled, the sound grating on my nerves. “Is that so? Or are you calling about something else?”
I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to remain calm. “Just wanted to make sure everything’s going smoothly on your end. You know, no loose ends.”
“Smooth as ever,” he replied, his tone smug. “But you already knew that, didn’t you?”
I leaned back in my chair, my grip tightening on the phone. “Good. Because I’d hate for any... complications to arise.”
Dean laughed, a low, menacing sound. “Don’t worry, Luca. I know how to handle complications.”
The line went dead, and I placed the phone down, my mind racing with plans and contingencies. Dean was playing a dangerous game, and I couldn’t afford to let him win. Lia’s safety—and the truth about Finn’s death—depended on it.
For now, I needed to act like I didn’t know anything, to keep Dean from suspecting my involvement. But behind the s
scenes, I would unravel his schemes piece by piece until there was nowhere left for him to hide.