Peace never lasted long.
Not here.
Sophia should've known.
The calm after everything—
After the fight.
After the kiss.
After that moment between her and Luciano—
It felt too fragile.
Too temporary.
And she was right.
It started quietly.
Too quietly.
A call.
One of Luciano's men.
"There's been movement."
Luciano's expression didn't change.
But Sophia saw it.
That shift.
"What kind of movement?" he asked.
"A warehouse on the east side. One of ours."
A pause.
"It's gone."
Sophia's chest tightened.
"Gone?"
The man nodded.
"Burned."
Silence.
Heavy.
Luciano's gaze darkened.
"Who?"
The hesitation said everything.
"We don't have confirmation," the man said carefully.
"But—"
"Say it."
"…Adriano."
The name landed like a warning.
Sophia's stomach dropped.
"He did that?"
Luciano didn't answer immediately.
Because he already knew.
"Yes."
The room shifted instantly.
War.
Again.
"But why?" Sophia asked.
"He's sending a message."
Luciano turned slightly, his jaw tight.
"To me."
A pause.
"And to you."
Sophia's breath caught.
"Me?"
Luciano's gaze locked onto hers.
"You said he wasn't a threat."
That hit.
Hard.
"I didn't say that," she whispered.
"But you didn't see it," Luciano replied.
Silence.
Because now—
She did.
"He's not just coming here to talk," Luciano continued.
"He's testing limits."
Sophia's heart started racing again.
"And we're the limit?"
Luciano nodded once.
"Yes."
Another guard rushed in.
Urgent.
"There's more."
Luciano didn't like that.
"Say it."
The guard hesitated.
Then—
"He left something behind."
Sophia frowned slightly.
"What do you mean?"
The guard stepped forward—
Placing something on the table.
A small velvet box.
The room went still.
Sophia's heart skipped.
Because somehow—
She already knew.
Luciano opened it.
Slowly.
Inside—
A necklace.
Simple.
Elegant.
Sophia's breath caught.
"I remember that," she whispered.
Luciano's gaze snapped to her.
"You've seen this before?"
She nodded slowly.
"He gave it to me… years ago."
Silence.
Explosive.
"You do know him," Luciano said.
Sophia shook her head slightly.
"Not like that. I barely remember it."
But that didn't matter.
Because Adriano did.
And now—
He was using it.
"There's a note," the guard added.
Luciano took it.
Unfolded it.
His expression darkened instantly.
"What does it say?" Sophia asked.
A pause.
Then—
Luciano read it aloud.
"You chose wrong. I'll give you another chance."
Silence fell.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
Sophia's chest tightened painfully.
"That's not just a message…"
Luciano's voice dropped.
"It's a warning."
And then—
His gaze lifted to hers.
"No," he corrected.
"It's a promise."
The air shifted again.
Because this wasn't over.
Not even close.
Sophia stepped closer to him.
"He's not going to stop, is he?"
Luciano didn't hesitate.
"No."
A pause.
Then—
"Neither am I."
That should've scared her.
But instead—
She felt something else.
Resolve.
"Then we don't let him win," she said.
Luciano's gaze softened—just slightly.
"We won't."
But even as he said it—
They both knew the truth.
This wasn't just about power anymore.
It was personal.
And that made it far more dangerous.
The mansion felt different the moment Luciano left.
Not empty.
Vulnerable.
Sophia stood by the window, arms wrapped around herself, watching the gates in the distance.
"Urgent business."
That's what he called it.
And for the first time since everything began—
She didn't feel safe without him there.
She hated that.
"You're stronger than this," she muttered to herself.
But the unease didn't leave.
It settled deeper.
Like a warning.
The lights flickered once.
Sophia froze.
Then—
Darkness.
Her heart slammed against her chest.
"What the—"
A noise behind her.
Soft.
Too soft.
She turned slowly.
And her blood ran cold.
Adriano.
Standing in the shadows like he had always belonged there.
"You really need better security," he said calmly.
Sophia took a step back instantly.
"You shouldn't be here."
Adriano smiled faintly.
"And yet… I am."
Her pulse raced.
"How did you even get in?"
"That doesn't matter."
A pause.
"What matters… is that he's not here."
That—
That was when it hit her.
This wasn't a coincidence.
This was planned.
"You've made a mistake," Sophia said, forcing her voice steady.
Adriano stepped closer.
"No," he said softly.
"You did."
Her heart pounded harder.
"I told you to leave me alone."
"And I told you," he replied,
"I don't walk away from what I want."
That sentence—
Too familiar.
Too dangerous.
Sophia's back hit the wall.
She didn't realize how far she'd stepped back.
"Don't come any closer," she said.
But he didn't stop.
"You chose him," Adriano said.
A pause.
"Over me."
"I don't even know you," she snapped.
"That didn't stop you from remembering me."
He was close now.
Too close.
Sophia's heart raced violently.
"Stay back."
But Adriano reached out—
Grabbing her wrist.
Her breath hitched sharply.
"No—"
His grip wasn't gentle.
Not controlled like Luciano's.
It was forceful.
Demanding.
"You're going to listen to me," he said.
Sophia struggled instantly.
"Let go of me!"
But he didn't.
"You don't belong here," he continued.
Her chest tightened.
"I decide that!"
"You think he'll let you?" Adriano snapped.
Sophia froze for a second.
Because that question—
It hit too close to the truth.
And that hesitation—
Adriano noticed.
"You see?" he said quietly.
"He's already inside your head."
Her anger flared.
"Get off me!"
She twisted hard—
Breaking his grip just enough—
And shoved him back.
Adriano stumbled a step.
Surprised.
"You should've stayed away," she said.
Her voice shaking—but strong.
He straightened slowly.
And this time—
His expression changed.
Darker.
"You're making this harder than it needs to be."
Her heart pounded.
"Get out."
"No."
Footsteps echoed suddenly from the hallway.
Heavy.
Fast.
Both of them turned.
And then—
Luciano walked in.
The room went still.
Because one look at him—
And everything changed.
His eyes landed on Sophia first.
Then—
On Adriano.
And in that moment—
Something inside him snapped.
"What did you do?" Luciano asked.
His voice wasn't loud.
It was worse.
Deadly.
Adriano smirked slightly.
"I was just talking to her."
Luciano stepped forward.
Slow.
Controlled.
"You touched her."
It wasn't a question.
Adriano didn't deny it.
"Yes."
That was his last mistake.
Luciano moved.
Faster than anything Sophia had ever seen.
He grabbed Adriano—
Slamming him into the wall with brutal force.
"You don't touch her," Luciano growled.
Sophia's heart raced.
But this time—
Not from fear.
From knowing—
This wasn't just war anymore.
This was personal.