"And you still want this? Want me? Even knowing what's coming?"
"Especially knowing what's coming." He held me tighter. "You chose me, Valentino. Refused immunity, refused to flip, chose to face charges rather than betray me. That's—" His voice caught. "That means everything."
"I couldn't betray you. I love you too much."
"I don't deserve you."
"You deserve me. You deserve this. You deserve someone who chooses you." I pulled back to look at him. "We're going to get through this."
"We are." He kissed me. "Because we have each other. And that's everything."
We cleaned up and got dressed, both of us quieter now, more settled. The desperate energy had burned off, leaving something calmer but just as determined.
That night we called Emilio and told him about Reeves's visit. He took notes, asked questions, and promised to be ready when the charges came.
"It'll happen fast once he files," Emilio said. "Arrest warrants, arraignment, bail hearings. But I'll be there for all of it. Both of you. We'll fight this together."
"Thank you," I said.
"Don't thank me yet. We have a long road ahead." He paused. "But for what it's worth? I think you two are going to make it through this. You're both fighters. And you have each other."
After the call, Luca and I went to bed early, both exhausted from the emotional roller coaster of the day. We lay tangled together in the darkness, neither of us quite ready to sleep.
"Do you regret it?" Luca asked quietly. "Choosing this? Choosing me?"
"No." I didn't hesitate. "I don't regret it. I'm scared, but I don't regret it."
"Good. Because I don't regret you either. Best thing that ever happened to me, even if the beginning was fucked up."
"Especially because the beginning was fucked up. We built something real from something dark. That matters."
"It does." He kissed the top of my head. "Get some sleep. Tomorrow we start preparing for war."
"War with the FBI. Sounds fun."
"Sounds like hell. But at least we're facing it together."
"Together," I agreed.
We fell asleep holding each other, both knowing the storm was coming but also knowing we'd weather it as long as we had each other.
CHAPTER 10: LUCA
THREE DAYS.
THREEdays since Reeves had shown up at our penthouse and threatened to file charges within the week. Three days of waiting for federal agents to knock on our door. Three days of barely sleeping, constantly checking my phone, jumping at every sound.
Three days of watching Valentino try to work while clearly terrified.
I stood at the windows overlooking the city, coffee in hand, watching the sun rise over Manhattan. Behind me, Valentino was still asleep in our bed. He'd finally dozed off around four AM after hours of tossing and turning.
My phone buzzed. Text from Sandro:Any news?
Nothing yet,I typed back.Still waiting.
We're ready. The second it happens, we'll be there.
I pocketed my phone and took another sip of coffee. The waiting was its own kind of torture. Worse than if they'd just arrested us immediately. This limbo state where we knew it was coming but not when—it was designed to break us down. Make us panic. Make us slip up.
