The courtyard slowly returned to silence after the attack.
Guards dragged the dead man's body away while others inspected the damaged gate. Bullet shells scattered across the ground, glinting under the afternoon sun.
Elena stood frozen near the pillar.
Her legs still felt weak.
Her heart hadn't slowed since the moment the gunshots started.
This was real.
This was Luca's world.
Violence.
Death.
Enemies everywhere.
She hugged herself tightly as a cold wind brushed across the courtyard.
Luca was watching her.
His grey eyes were calm, but sharp—like he was studying every reaction she had.
"You should go inside," he said.
Elena looked up at him.
"How are you so calm?"
He didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he slipped the gun back into his jacket like it was the most normal thing in the world.
"Because panic solves nothing."
"That man just tried to kidnap me!"
"Yes."
"And you're acting like this happens every day!"
"It does."
Elena stared at him in disbelief.
"How can you live like this?"
Luca's gaze hardened slightly.
"You adapt."
He turned toward the mansion entrance.
"Come with me."
Elena didn't move.
"Why?"
"Because from this moment forward, you won't be staying in the guest room anymore."
Her stomach twisted.
"What does that mean?"
"It means you're moving to my wing of the house."
Her eyes widened.
"Your wing?!"
"Yes."
"No way!"
Luca turned slightly and looked at her again.
"You're a target now."
"I was already in the guest room!"
"That part of the mansion has fewer guards."
"And your room doesn't?"
"No."
Elena crossed her arms stubbornly.
"I'm not sharing a room with you."
Luca's lips twitched faintly.
"I didn't say you would."
Her cheeks flushed slightly.
"Oh."
He began walking again.
"This way."
Reluctantly, Elena followed him inside the mansion.
The staff quickly moved out of their path as Luca walked through the halls.
Everyone seemed to lower their heads respectfully when he passed.
Elena noticed.
"They're all afraid of you."
"They respect me."
"There's a difference."
Luca didn't respond.
They reached a large staircase leading to the second floor.
Elena glanced around as they climbed.
This side of the mansion looked even more luxurious.
Dark wood walls.
Expensive artwork.
Large windows overlooking the gardens.
"This area is restricted," Luca said.
"What does that mean?"
"It means only a few people are allowed here."
"And now I'm one of them?"
"For your safety."
They stopped in front of a pair of tall black doors.
Luca pushed them open.
Elena stepped inside—and froze.
The space looked less like a bedroom and more like a private apartment.
A massive bed stood in the center of the room.
There was a sitting area with leather couches, a fireplace, and a balcony overlooking the estate.
To the side, another smaller bedroom connected to the main room.
"That's where you'll stay," Luca said, pointing to the smaller room.
Elena blinked.
"You're serious."
"Yes."
"This place is huge."
"I know."
She slowly walked toward the balcony window.
From here, she could see the entire property.
Guards patrolling the walls.
Security cameras everywhere.
It truly was a fortress.
"Elena."
She turned.
Luca was watching her again.
"There's something else you need to know."
"What?"
"About your father."
Her chest tightened.
"What about him?"
Luca walked toward the fireplace slowly.
"When you told me his name last night… it surprised me."
"Why?"
"Because Antonio Rossi once worked for me."
Elena's breath caught.
"That's impossible."
"It's the truth."
"My father was a mechanic!"
"Yes."
"And?"
"And he fixed cars."
"For my organization."
Her head began spinning.
"No… he never told me that."
"He wouldn't."
"Why not?"
"Because he left the organization years ago."
Elena frowned.
"Why?"
Luca's expression darkened slightly.
"Because he saved my life."
She stared at him.
"What do you mean?"
"Ten years ago, someone tried to assassinate me."
Her heart skipped.
"They planted a bomb under my car."
Elena felt a chill run down her spine.
"And my father…?"
"He found it."
Her hands slowly clenched.
"He warned me before it exploded."
Elena swallowed hard.
"So you owe him your life."
"Yes."
"And that's why you're helping me?"
Luca nodded once.
"I promised him something that day."
"What?"
"That if anything ever happened to him… I would protect his family."
Elena felt something shift inside her chest.
"You never told me this last night."
"You didn't ask."
She stared down at the floor.
"My father never mentioned any of this."
"That's because he wanted you far away from this world."
"And yet here I am."
Luca studied her quietly.
"Yes."
Silence filled the room.
Elena felt overwhelmed.
Everything she believed about her father was suddenly uncertain.
Had he really been involved with the mafia?
Why had he hidden it from her?
Suddenly—
A loud knock echoed from the door.
Luca's expression instantly hardened.
"Come in."
The door opened quickly.
One of his guards stepped inside.
"Boss."
"What is it?"
"We found something."
Luca's eyes narrowed.
"What?"
The guard glanced briefly at Elena.
Then spoke quietly.
"The man who attacked earlier… he wasn't working alone."
Elena's heart skipped.
"What do you mean?"
"There's another vehicle outside the property."
Luca's voice turned cold.
"Where?"
"Near the back road."
"Who is it?"
"We're not sure yet."
Luca grabbed his jacket from the chair.
"Stay here," he told Elena.
Her stomach twisted.
"What if they come inside?"
"They won't."
"How do you know?"
"Because no one enters this house without my permission."
He walked toward the door.
But before leaving, he paused.
Then looked back at her.
"Lock the door."
Elena nodded slowly.
Luca and the guard disappeared down the hallway.
The door closed behind them.
Suddenly the room felt too quiet again.
Elena walked toward the window nervously.
Her heart was still racing from everything that had happened today.
Gunshots.
Kidnapping attempts.
Secrets about her father.
This world was terrifying.
She stepped out onto the balcony carefully.
The estate looked calm again.
Guards moved around the property.
But something felt wrong.
Like someone was watching.
Elena hugged her arms.
"Stop imagining things," she whispered to herself.
Then—
She saw movement near the trees beyond the wall.
Her heart stopped.
A figure.
Someone was standing outside the property.
Watching the mansion.
Watching her.
Fear shot through her chest.
The man slowly raised something in his hand.
Something black.
Elena's eyes widened in horror.
A gun.
Before she could scream—
BANG!
The bullet shattered the balcony glass.
Elena screamed and dropped to the floor.
Her heart pounded wildly.
Footsteps thundered down the hallway.
The door burst open.
Luca rushed inside.
"Elena!"
She looked up at him, shaking.
"There's someone outside!"
Luca moved quickly to the balcony.
His expression turned dangerously cold when he saw the broken glass.
Guards were already running toward the back wall.
The shooter had disappeared.
Luca turned back to Elena.
His jaw was tight with anger.
"They're getting closer."
Her voice trembled.
"I didn't even do anything to them."
"You exist."
Tears filled her eyes.
"This is exactly why I don't belong here!"
Luca stepped closer.
For the first time since meeting him…
His voice softened slightly.
"Which is why I need to protect you."
Elena looked up at him.
Their faces were suddenly very close.
Too close.
She could feel the warmth of his breath.
Her heart started beating faster again.
But for a different reason this time.
Luca's eyes dropped briefly to her lips.
The tension between them thickened.
For a moment—
It looked like he might kiss her.
But then Luca stepped back suddenly.
His expression returned to its usual cold calm.
"This proves my point."
Elena swallowed.
"What point?"
"That you're safer with me than anywhere else."
Her voice came out barely above a whisper.
"…And if I refuse to marry you?"
Luca's grey eyes locked onto hers again.
Then he gave the answer that sent another chill through her body.
"Then I'll still protect you."
She blinked.
"Why?"
"Because I owe your father."
He turned toward the door again.
But before leaving, he added quietly—
"However…"
Elena held her breath.
"The safest place for you in this world…"
His gaze darkened slightly.
"Is beside me."