She studied my face. "You're not telling me everything."
Perceptive, as always. My first instinct was to deflect, shield her from the worst. But I'd tried that before, and she'd accused me of treating her like a possession rather than a partner.
She was right then. And she was right now.
I met her gaze directly. "Giuseppe's made his move. Now we make ours."
CHAPTER 12
Sienna
Five days since everything changed. Five days since Luca showed me that photograph hours after we'd been intimate, proving that vulnerability and danger were inseparable in our world. Five days of him pulling away again, retreating behind walls I'd thought were finally coming down.
I placed my hand on my stomach—nine weeks pregnant now, though still not showing. The baby growing inside me was both a promise and a target, making me simultaneously more precious and more vulnerable than I'd ever been.
The burner phone I'd hidden weeks ago remained tucked away, unused but available. My official phone—the one Luca's security monitored—showed forty-three blocked calls and twenty-seven filtered messages. Most from Isabella. Three from my father's household. Two from Father Salvatore. One from Adriana, Luca's sister.
I'd read the filtered messages Luca's team had deemed "safe"—Isabella's first one:Where are you? Dad won't tell me anything.
Then:Please just let me know you're okay.
Then, yesterday:I'm scared.
Each one shredded me. But Luca was right—any response could be intercepted, traced, used. Giuseppe would exploit my sister without hesitation if he knew how to reach her through me.
So I'd stayed silent, hating every second of it.
Now, a new text appeared. Not filtered. Not blocked. Unknown number that had bypassed security entirely.
Your father is dying faster than they told you. Giuseppe has been lying about the timeline—you have days, not weeks. I was your father's doctor before Giuseppe replaced me with someone he controls. I have his real medical files and evidence of Giuseppe's plans. Your father wanted you to have this before... Terminal B, locker #224, noon tomorrow. I'm risking everything.
My heart hammered against my ribs. This was exactly what I'd been warned about—someone trying to manipulate me, to lure me into danger. But the specific details, the knowledge of my uncle's machinations, the reference to my father's original physician...
My finger hovered over the delete button, but I stopped myself. If this was real, Luca needed to see it. If it was a trap, he needed to know what Giuseppe was planning. Terminal B, locker #224, noon tomorrow. But more importantly—was this real, or another of Giuseppe's traps?
The answer came sooner than I expected.
My phone rang. Uncle Giuseppe.
"Sienna,cara mia," his smooth voice filled the line. "I heard you've been feeling unwell. Pregnancy can be...challenging."
My blood chilled. How did he know? "Uncle Giuseppe. I wasn't expecting to hear from you."
"Family should stay in touch, especially during difficult times. Your father's illness, your new... situation. So many changes." His tone was perfectly cordial, but something underneath made my skin crawl.
"I had lunch with Salvatore Ricci yesterday," Giuseppe continued casually. "Such an interesting man. He mentioned how much he's looking forward to meeting you properly. Said he has great hopes for future... cooperation between our families."
The threat was clear. Giuseppe wasn't just planning a takeover—he was already negotiating with the Calabrese about carving up the territories afterward.
"We should have lunch soon. Catch up properly," he added.
"Of course," I managed. "When things settle down."
"Yes, when things settle down," he repeated, and I could hear the smile in his voice. "Give my regards to your husband. Tell himfamigliaalways remembers."
The line went dead.
I stared at my phone, pieces clicking together with sickening clarity. The earlier text—the one about my father dying faster, the doctor with evidence, Terminal B—it wasn't from some loyal physician risking everything. It was Giuseppe.
