Earlier that day.
Lucas stood in his study, his hand on the desk as he spoke on the phone.
"Yes," he replied calmly, "see to it that the ports in Naples are secured. I do not want any loose ends."
On the other side, Damien's voice was distinct and clear.
"Everythings fine in Italy. Profits are holding firm, but something else is also happening."
Lucas straightened up slightly. "Continue."
"The Madrigal brothers," Damien continued. "They're asking questions. They're already looking for Mel."
Lucas's jaw clenched.
"Have you found her?" Damien inquired delicately.
Lucas breathed only once. "I found her last night,"
There was a brief moment of silence. "Then be careful," Damien warned.
Lucas hung up without another word.
Before he could act, the door to his study opened, and Jude, his new assistant, entered the room.
"Don," Jude said, lowering his head slightly, "Don Veldrez requests your presence at his mansion. He wants to discuss the new drugs that have just hit the market."
Lucas checked his watch. "Tell him I'll be there in an hour," he said.
"Yes, Don," Jude said, backing out of the room.
Minutes later, Lucas walked through his garage and slid into his latest BMW sports car. Fire erupted as Jude followed behind in another vehicle. They sped through the city streets, power and silence encircling him—but his mind was not on business.
It was on her.
When they arrived at the Veldrez mansion, Antonio Veldrez was already waiting there. Lucas was escorted into the house and led directly to Antonio's study.
"Lucas," greeted Antonio warmly, rising to greet him. "How have you been?"
"Busy," Lucas answered smoothly, shaking his hand. "As always."
They exchanged pleasantries before settling into business proper. "We're seeing an awful lot of new dope on the street," he said, getting down to business. "We're moving arms into the country," he said, "and we need ammo routes too." Antonio asked Lucas
After some tense negotiations, compromises were reached.
Two hours went by.
They talked of power, of land, and later of Lucas's father. Antonio asked questions, and Lucas responded with caution, his voice respectful but distant.
"Who do you think you are?" Antonio
Next, Lucas's phone buzzed.
He glanced down—and the rest is history.
Isabella
His face immediately softened. Without a moment's hesitation, he replied.
"Alessandro, "
"Mel's" weak but clear voice came through. "I need you. Can you go pick me up at school?"
Lucas suddenly stood up.
"It's the British College of Brazil," she continued.
"I'm on my way, amore," he murmured automatically.
The call ended.
"We'll continue this another time," Lucas told Antonio firmly as he turned to him.
Antonio looked at his face and nodded. "Family?"
Lucas didn't respond. He had already gotten up and started to walk out.
He tore himself away from the study, going directly to the automobile. The engine roared as he sped away from the mansion. All else was cast aside.
"For the first time that day—maybe for the first time in years—,"
nothing was more important than getting to her.
***
Returning to the infirmary, Mel carefully lowered her phone. She was trembling a bit in her hands as she looked at the black screen.
Her mind was turned in different ways.
Go with Lucas.
"Okay, order a ride
"Let Andre take you home."
None of them seemed safe. None of them seemed simple.
Andre saw the faraway look in her eyes. "Lucy," he encouraged softly, pulling her back from her reverie. "Who is Alessandro to you?"
"She didn't answer." Andrepaused and continued, "It seems that he is trouble, based on what happened last night, and you didn't have to contact him, anyway." He moved in closer and mumbled. "You don't need him to take you home. You only need a guardian, and I can do that. I know I'm not your guardian like the nurse wanted," he said hastily, "but I'll see that you get home safely. I promise." Mel looked up at him then. The concern in his eyes was genuine—steady and far removed from the turmoil churning within her. Somewhere out there, outside the walls of the infirmary, the roar of the engine grew.
***
Outside the school gates, Lucas pulled his car into a parking space and cut the engine. He reached for his phone and dialed.
"Isabella," he said calmly, "I'm outside. Maybe you could help me find my way around the school.
Mel closed her eyes for a moment. "Hmm… alright," she said. "Someone will fetch you here.
She hung up and turned to Andre, her voice soft—almost pleading.
"Andre, would you mind bringing him to the infirmary? Please."
Andre seemed to glare at her a moment, clearly not happy. Then he breathed out.
"Well… what the heck. He's already here," he said with growing hesitation. "Okay."
He cast a sharp glance at Drayton as he went out.
"Don't try anything funny," Andre warned. "I mean it."
The door closed behind him, leaving Mel to herself with Drayton.
The silence thickened.
Drayton took a slow step closer.
Then another one.
He leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper near her ear.
"So," he murmured, a smirk in the tone, "how did you like the performance my friends and I put on last night?"
Mel stiffened. "Very nice, isn't it?" he continued in a soft tone. "And here I thought you wanted to be part of us." Her stomach twisted as his words still echoed in her head and made her skin crawl—just as light footsteps sounded softly in the hallway outside. Help was on the way. Mel shook her head, sure her face had turned white, but for now she stood her ground, her heart pounding, refusing to give him the reaction he wanted.
***
"A few minutes later, the door to the infirmary opened," Isabella
Lucas walked in with Andre.
*
The room fell silent.
The nurse glanced up at her clipboard and turned to Mel. 'Is this your legal guardian?' she asked softly.
Mel hesitated.
Before she could utter a word, the nurse turned to Lucas to study him.
"And what is your relationship to her, young man?"
Lucas didn't hesitate. His tone was steady, confident—too confident.
"I am her husband, ma'am," he said. "May I take my wife home?"
The air in the room changed instantly.
Mel's breath snagged. Her gaze flicked from Andre—who stood staring at Lucas in shock—to Drayton, whose face grew tight with anger. Then she looked back at the nurse.
The nurse blinked in surprise, just like all the rest in the room.
"Well." she slowly continued, "she has a fever, malnutrition, and severe nervous strain. She requires proper care and absolute rest. She needs to be advised to stay back from school tomorrow. I shall myself give the notice to the principal."
Lucas nodded once. "She will get all the attention she needs."
Before anyone else could do anything, he walked forward and swept Mel into his arms. At first, she was rigid, but then she went completely still—too tired to struggle, too overwhelmed to resist.
"Lucy,"said Andre, moving a step forward.
"I've got her," Lucas said strongly, and his voice brooked no contradiction.
Drayton's fists clenched as he could only watch in helpless awe as Lucas bore her away.
Mel rested her head lightly on Lucas's chest as he walked towards the car, her mind reeling with every thought possible.
The atmosphere outside was incredible. And just like that, she was leaving—not with her friends, not on her own terms—but in the arms of the man who had once broken her… and now claimed her as his wife.