The Wounded Bloodline

Beginning of Revenge

Stelle's POV:

I waited in silence, my heart heavy with fear and anticipation. Weeks had passed since Luca had stormed out of the room, leaving me shaken and confused. I had heard nothing from him, seen nothing. It was as if he had vanished into thin air.

But I knew he would come back. I could feel it in my bones, a sense of foreboding that wouldn't shake.

And then, one day, I heard the door open. I turned, my heart racing, as Luca walked into the room. But it wasn't the Luca I knew. His eyes were wild, his face gaunt. And his clothes... his clothes were covered in blood.

My heart stopped as he approached me, his movements slow and deliberate. I could see the violence in his eyes, the anger and the pain. I knew in that moment that something was terribly wrong.

"Luca?" I whispered, my voice barely audible. "What happened?"

He didn't answer, just kept coming towards me. I could see the blood on his hands, the stains on his clothes. My mind raced with terrible thoughts, fears that I couldn't shake.

And then he reached me, his eyes burning with a fierce intensity. "I've been taking care of business, Stelle," he growled, his voice low and menacing. "I've been making sure that no one else will ever hurt me again."

My heart raced as he reached out, his bloody hand grasping for me. I knew in that moment that I was in grave danger, that Luca was beyond control.

My eyes widened in horror as Luca's words sank in. The blood on his clothes, his hands... it was my father's blood. I felt a wave of nausea wash over me, my mind reeling with the realization.

"You... you killed him," I stammered, my voice barely audible.

Luca's eyes blazed with a fierce intensity, his face twisted in a snarl. "He deserved it," he growled. "He deserved to die for what he did to me, to my family."

I felt a scream building in my throat, a scream of rage and grief and horror. But it got stuck, unable to escape. My eyes were fixed on Luca, on the blood that stained his clothes, and I knew that I was trapped in a living nightmare.

"You monster," I whispered, my voice trembling with fear and hatred. "You're a monster."

Luca's face twisted in a cruel smile. "Maybe I am," he said. "But I'm the monster who owns you now, Stelle. And you'll do what I say, or suffer the consequences."

I felt a glimmer of hope, a spark of defiance ignite within me. "You may have killed my father," I spat, my voice trembling with rage, "but you'll never take my brother. He'll come for you, Luca. He'll make you pay for what you've done."

Luca's smile grew wider, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Oh, I'm shaking in my boots," he sneered. "Your brother, the great Giovanni. He's a fool, just like your father. And he'll meet the same end, if he dares to cross me."

I felt a chill run down my spine, a cold dread that spread through my veins. But I refused to back down, refused to show Luca the fear that was consuming me. "You're a monster," I repeated, my voice steady. "And monsters always fall in the end."

Luca's eyes flashed with anger, his face darkening. "You're playing with fire, Stelle," he growled. "And you'll get burned."

Luca's eyes flashed with anger, but he smiled calmly. "I won't kill your brother, Stelle," he said. "But you, yourself, would. As I know more about your life than you think I do."

My eyes widened in shock, my mind reeling with the revelation. "How did you...?" I stammered, my voice barely audible.

Luca's smile grew wider, his eyes glinting with knowledge. "I know all about your life, Stelle. The secrets you keep hidden, the pain you try to forget. Your stepbrother, Giovanni, killed your mother. And you've been living with the guilt and the shame ever since."

I felt a wave of nausea wash over me, my heart racing with fear. How did Luca know this? How did he know the darkest secrets of my past?

"And you think I would...?" I couldn't even say the words, couldn't even think them.

Luca's eyes burned with intensity. "You would do anything to protect yourself, Stelle. Even kill. And I'll use that to my advantage."

My mind raced with horror, my heart heavy with the weight of my secrets. Luca knew me better than I thought, and he would use that knowledge to destroy me.

I felt a surge of relief as Luca released me from his grip, my legs trembling as I stood on the ground. I gazed up at him, my eyes locked on his, and saw the intensity in his eyes.

"Call me after the funeral," he growled, his voice low and menacing. "Or I'll make it worse. You don't want that, Stelle. Trust me."

I nodded, my heart racing with fear. I knew that Luca was a man who kept his promises, and I had no doubt that he would make good on his threat.

As I watched, Luca turned and walked away, leaving me shaken and alone. I took a deep breath and turned to face the funeral procession, my heart heavy with grief.

The funeral was a blur, a haze of tears and sorrow. I went through the motions, my mind numb with pain. But as the coffin was lowered into the ground, I felt a surge of anger and determination.

I would not let Luca win. I would not let him break me. I would find a way to escape, to fight back, and to make him pay for what he had done.

I took a deep breath and made my way back to my car, my mind racing with plans and strategies. I would call Luca, yes, but I would not be intimidated. I would play his game, but I would play it on my own terms.

And as I drove away from the funeral, I knew that the battle between Luca and me was far from over. It was only just beginning.

I drove back to my house, my mind racing with thoughts of Luca and his threats. I knew I had to be careful, but I also knew I couldn't let him win. I couldn't let him control me.

As I walked into my house, I saw my phone on the table, taunting me. I knew I had to call Luca, but I was scared. Scared of what he might say, scared of what he might do.

But I knew I had to be strong. I took a deep breath and picked up the phone, my hand trembling as I dialed Luca's number.

"Hello?" he answered, his voice low and menacing.

"It's me," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'm calling like you asked."

"Good girl," Luca said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I knew you'd come around. Now, let's talk about our next move."

I swallowed hard, my heart racing with fear. What did he have planned for me? What did he want from me?

"What do you want, Luca?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

"I want you to meet me at the old warehouse on 5th and Main at midnight," he said, his voice cold and detached. "And come alone."

My heart sank, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios. But I knew I had to be brave. I had to face Luca head-on.

"Okay," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'll be there."

"Good," Luca said, his voice dripping with satisfaction. "I'll be waiting."

And with that, the line went dead. I was left standing in my kitchen, my heart racing with fear, wondering what Luca had planned for me next.