157

Luca’s POV

Hearing Lia’s voice had done something to me. It was as if the weight of the entire world had lifted, even if just for a moment. She was alive. She was strong, though I could tell she was barely holding on. That was all I needed to ignite the fire in me. I wouldn’t stop until she was out of that dungeon and safe in my arms again.

I sat at my desk, Bianca and Jenny’s videos and pictures of the dungeon laid out before me. The images showed every detail the cold, damp walls, the heavy iron bars, the chains. Each photo made my blood boil, but I forced myself to stay calm. This wasn’t the time for emotions. It was time for action.

I transferred the files to multiple systems, uploading them to encrypted drives and saving them on several flash drives. Losing this evidence wasn’t an option. Dean would stop at nothing to keep his secrets buried, and I wasn’t going to let him.

“Benedicta,” I called out, and moments later, she entered the room, her brow furrowed in concern.

“What is it, Luca?”

I handed her a small stack of flash drives. “I need you to hide these in the cellar under your house. Make sure they’re somewhere no one would think to look. Dean can’t find these, no matter what.”

Her eyes widened as she took the drives. “Luca, what are you planning?”

“Everything,” I said simply. “And nothing he’ll see coming.”

She hesitated but nodded. “I’ll keep them safe. But you need to be careful. Dean isn’t someone to underestimate.”

“I know,” I said, standing and stretching. The tension in my body refused to leave, but I couldn’t afford to let it show. “Which is why I’m going to meet him.”

“What?” she exclaimed, her voice rising in alarm. “Are you out of your mind?”

“I don’t have a choice,” I said firmly. “Dean thinks he’s untouchable. If I want to bring him down, I need to get close enough to gather more evidence. Bianca and Jenny’s help has been invaluable, but it’s not enough. I need his words, his confessions.”

“And you think he’ll just hand them to you?”

“Not exactly,” I said, pulling a small microchip from my pocket. “This will record everything. I’ll plant it on his clothes during our meeting.”

Benedicta looked at me like I’d lost my mind. “And what happens when he figures out what you’re doing? Luca, this is dangerous!”

“I know,” I said softly, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “But I don’t have another option. If I don’t do this, Lia stays in that dungeon. And I’m not letting that happen.”

Her shoulders slumped, and she let out a shaky breath. “Fine. But promise me you’ll be careful.”

“I will,” I assured her. “But you need to be watchful too. Dean is sneaky, and if he suspects anything, he might try something while I’m gone. Stay alert, and keep Merlin close.”

Her expression hardened, and she nodded. “I’ll watch him like a hawk.”

“Good.” I grabbed my jacket and slipped the microchip into the inner pocket. My heart pounded in my chest, but I pushed the fear aside. This wasn’t about me. It was about Lia.

As I stepped out of the house, I turned back to Benedicta one last time. “If anything happens, don’t wait for me. Call Luca or Bianca. They’ll know what to do.”

“Nothing will happen,” she said, her voice firm. “But I’ll be ready.”

I nodded, satisfied, and headed to the car. The drive to meet Dean felt longer than it should have, every passing second weighing on me. My mind raced with scenarios, each more dangerous than the last. But I clung to the plan.

Dean had no idea what was coming. He thought he held all the power, but he’d underestimated me. This wasn’t just about saving Lia it was about justice. Dean needed to pay for everything he’d done, and I was going to make sure he did.

As I approached the meeting point, I took a deep breath, steeling myself. This was just the beginning. I had to play the part, act as if nothing was wrong, all while collecting every word, every slip-up, every detail that could bring him down.

For Lia. For justice. For freedom.

I stepped out of the car, the microchip safely tucked in my pocket, and made my way to the meeting spot. The game was on, and I was ready to play.

___

Dean’s POV

The couch beneath me offered little comfort. For hours, I’d been trying to rest, but my mind wouldn’t let me. The weight of everything—the secrets, the lies, the constant juggling of power—pressed down like a vice on my chest. I leaned back, closing my eyes, but even that didn’t offer reprieve.

Then my phone rang.

I opened my eyes, irritated. Reaching for it, I glanced at the caller ID. Luca.

A part of me wanted to ignore it, let him stew in whatever thoughts had driven him to contact me. But I couldn’t. Luca wasn’t someone you brushed aside—not when he was involved with something as delicate as Lia.

“Dean,” I answered, my voice curt.

“We need to meet,” he said, his tone calm but firm.

“Why?”

“It’s important.”

I waited for him to elaborate, but he didn’t. He never gave more than necessary. That was Luca—controlled, calculating, and always several steps ahead.

“Fine. Where?”

He gave me the location, and I ended the call without another word.

I stood, stretching out the stiffness in my body before heading to the closet. Pulling out a dark shirt and slacks, I dressed quickly, mentally rehearsing my alibi. If Alina asked where I was going—or where I’d been later—I’d tell her I needed to unwind. To clear my head.

She wouldn’t press. Alina knew better than to question me when I was in this mood.

Sliding my shoes on, I grabbed my car keys and stepped outside. The crisp night air met me as I approached the sleek black car waiting in the driveway. I got in, started the engine, and pulled out onto the empty road.

As the city lights blurred past, my mind began dissecting the situation. Why had Luca called me? What did he want?

I tapped my fingers against the steering wheel, my grip tightening. Luca wasn’t stupid. He wouldn’t reach out unless he had a reason—a good one.

The memory of our last conversation resurfaced, that heated moment when I’d let my guard down and confessed to killing Finn. A mistake, no matter how fleeting. Luca was too sharp to let something like that slide.

I sighed, frustration bubbling beneath the surface.

This wasn’t how things were supposed to go. I’d been careful, meticulous in covering my tracks. But Luca had a way of unraveling even the most carefully laid plans. He was like a shadow—silent, persistent, and impossible to shake.

I glanced at the GPS, noting I was nearing the meeting point.

Whatever he had planned, I needed to be ready.

The location he’d chosen was secluded, dimly lit by a single flickering streetlamp. My instincts flared. It felt too perfect for a setup.

I parked the car but didn’t step out immediately. Reaching for my phone, I dialed Luca’s number.

“Are you alone?” I asked when he picked up.

“Yes,” he replied without hesitation.

“And why do you want to meet?”

“To negotiate. About Lia. Nothing else.”

I stayed silent for a moment, weighing his words. Negotiate? Luca rarely used that word. He was direct, preferring action over diplomacy.

I scanned the area through the windshield, my unease growing. Negotiation or not, Luca wasn’t to be underestimated. He’d do whatever it took to protect Lia—even if it meant crossing lines he’d never considered before.

But I wasn’t one to back down.

After a moment’s pause, I opened the car door, stepping out into the cool night.

Each step I took toward the meeting point was calculated, and deliberate. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of catching me off guard.

This time, I’d be ready.