Marco blinked. "…Three months?" he was very confused
Matteo frowned slightly. "That's not like you."
Dante's eyes narrowed. "Giving Caruso time to breathe doesn't sound good, more like giving him the upper hand."
Sofia, however, said nothing. She was watching her brother carefully.
Lucian finally lifted his gaze. Cold. Calculating. Unreadable. "He's expecting an immediate retaliation," Lucian said calmly. "An emotional response." His eyes darkened slightly. "and I don't give my enemies what they expect." The room fell quiet again.
Matteo crossed his arms. "So we wait… and let him build confidence?"
"Relax" Lucian's lips curved faintly. "We let him think he has control."
Dante exhaled slowly, a dangerous smile forming. He looks different from the calmness he shows all the time. The aura coming from his screams violence and danger. "And then we take everything."
Lucian didn't respond. But the silence was confirmation enough. Then he stood and moved toward the map, laying out his plan. "I'll take the northern forces." He pointed at the territories. "Dante comes with me." Dante nodded. "Marco and Matteo stay in Milan."
Marco smirked. "Someone has to babysit the city." Matteo rolled his shoulders slightly. "We'll handle it."
Lucian turned toward Sofia. "You oversee the office."
Sofia nodded.
Then slowly… Everyone's gaze shifted toward Elena. She sat across from Lucian, completely silent. She had not asked any sort of questions, which was new. All she did was stare down at the brown map looking at all the red circles, territories.
For a few days things had been quiet. She had almost forgotten the reality of her situation. Almost. But not who was around her. When Elena finally lifted her head, her face looked calm. But her amber eyes burned with anger. Half the anger was directed at Lucian. The rest was at herself. She looked at everyone then her eyes settled on Lucian. "And my brother?" she asked quietly. She didn't know why she asked but she knew something had happened for them to be here planning an attack.
Lucian held her gaze before he answered her. "He's safe at the university." She nodded.
Matteo asked, "What about Elena?"
Lucian watched her silently for a moment then he spoke. "Elena stays." No one reacted. That was expected. But his next words made the room go still. "I'll assign the Hawks to her." Several heads turned to him. Even Dante raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
The Hawks were not ordinary soldiers. They were the Moretti family's most elite unit. They were the deadliest weapons in the underworld. More like a killing used only when absolute destruction was required. And they only obey one person. Lucian.
Matteo leaned back slowly. "The Hawks?" he asked. Looking at him
Marco let out a quiet whistle. "That's serious."
Sofia said nothing, she just leaned back in her chair seeing the lengths her brother would go to protect a girl he had once intended to keep only as a hostage. This only made her believe her brother was still there.
But Lucian didn't explain himself as his gaze returned to the map. He could feel Elena gaze on him and he knew why she was mad this time but this was not the time for that.
The discussion continued. Plans, routes, targets. But across the table… Elena could only stare at him.
The Hawks? For her? She remembered Marco telling her about them being killing machines but she didn't understand why they were using them and somehow…that only made her angrier.
Marco leaned back with a low whistle. "Three months…" he muttered.
Lucian's gaze flickered briefly from the map to Elena Just for a second then back again. "Use the time to strengthen our positions, tighten every security, and prepare." he said coldly, his voice dropping slightly. "When we move… there won't be anything left of them."
No one questioned him again because everyone in that room understood and knew one thing. Lucian didn't do things that never benefit him and he never makes mistakes. He perfected it.
Outside the tall windows of the mansion, dark clouds were beginning to gather over Milan. A storm was coming. But this time, it would bring blood.
The mansion was quiet, Elena stood just inside her room, the door closing softly behind her. The faint click echoed louder than it should have. Her fingers tightened slightly around the handle before she let go.
The meeting replayed in her head and in three months everything would be set. Her jaw clenched and he had already decided everything.
Elena walked further into the room, her steps slow but controlled. She didn't bother turning on the lights. The dim glow from the evening sky slipping through the curtains was enough. Her chest rose and fell steadily. But inside, she was burning, her lips pressed into a thin line as she ran her hands through her hair. "Unbelievable," she muttered under her breath.
A soft knock came from the door. Once. Twice. Elena didn't move.
"I know you're inside," Lucian's voice came from the other side—low, calm, and smooth.
Her heart betrayed her instantly, skipping a beat. She closed her eyes briefly. That darn voice. Then I walked to the bed and sat down.It was quiet for a moment then the door opened. Of course it did. It was his house after all.
Lucian stepped in just in time to see she rolled her eyes at him without meeting his gaze. He didn't rush. He never rushed but that doesn't mean he has enough patience to spare her. The door closed behind him with a quiet click. "The next time you roll those pretty eyes at me, I'll make sure they roll back properly." He said, his voice was deep, it sent vibrations through her body, making her ears turn pink at his words but she still didn't look at him.
For a moment… Neither of them spoke. Elena still didn't look at him. Lucian watched her. It was hard to say what he was thinking, his expression was unreadable but his gaze was hot on her skin like lava.
She sat at the edge of the bed, hands resting on her lap, posture straight—but too still. That was the first sign.Her silence wasn't calm, It was anger.
Lucian knew she was mad at him and she probably couldn't do a thing about it. He smirked as he found her anger endearing and her face was adorable but her eyes were blazing. He took a few steps forward, his gaze never leaving her. "Elena," he called her. Nothing.Not even a glance.
His eyes darkened slightly."That's how we're doing this?" he asked quietly. Still nothing.
Elena's fingers curled slightly against the fabric of her clothes.
Lucian exhaled slowly through his nose. Patience. He reminded himself. He walked further into the room, stopping a few steps in front of her.
"So how long is it going to take this time."It wasn't a question.
Elena let out a soft, humorless scoff. "how long?"
Her voice was extremely calm. Now she lifted her eyes to him and Lucian immediately saw it. The fire in her amber eyes. There wasn't a trace of fear or confusion. It was plain anger.
"Say what you want to say," he told her. He knows her better than she thinks.
Elena stood up slowly, she faced him fully now her eyes locked onto his."
"You don't get to decide everything," she said looking him dead in the eyes which no one ever does.
Lucian didn't react.
"You don't get to sit there," she continued, her voice tightening slightly, "and plan a war like it's just another business deal."
"It is a business decision," he replied calmly.
Her eyes flashed. "People are going to die."
"They already tried to kill your brother." The words struck her like a lightning bolt. She froze letting the words sink in.