The Wounded Bloodline

The Torturer's Revenge

Luca's POV:

I, Luca, stood outside the dimly lit cell, my heart racing with anticipation. Giovanni, the man who had destroyed my family, was finally within my grasp. I could hardly contain my fury as I gazed at him through the bars, his eyes cowering in fear.

"You've been a hard man to find, Giovanni," I sneered, my voice dripping with venom. "But now, you're all mine."

I entered the cell, my footsteps echoing off the cold stone walls. Giovanni cowered, his eyes pleading for mercy. But I had none to give.

"You took everything from me," I hissed, my hands closing around his throat. "My father, my family's reputation, our future. You'll pay for what you've done."

I began to squeeze, my grip tightening as Giovanni's eyes bulged. He struggled, but I held fast, my anger and hatred fueling my strength.

And then, I let go, watching as he gasped for air. "We're just getting started," I whispered, my eyes blazing with fury. "You'll beg for mercy before I'm done with you."

The torture had begun, and Giovanni would soon learn the true meaning of pain.

Luca's eyes were cold and unforgiving as he pressed the barrel of the gun against Giovanni's forehead. "It's over," he hissed, his voice devoid of emotion.

Giovanni's eyes were sunken, his face gaunt and pale. He had been broken, his spirit crushed by the relentless torture. He knew he was about to die, and a faint glimmer of acceptance flickered in his eyes.

"You win, Luca," he croaked, his voice barely audible. "I'm sorry... for everything."

Luca's expression didn't change, but his finger tightened on the trigger. "Sorry?" he repeated, his voice dripping with disdain. "Sorry isn't enough. You took everything from me. My family, my home, my life. You left me with nothing but ashes and dust."

Giovanni closed his eyes, ready for the end. Luca's man watched with a mixture of fascination and horror, knowing that Luca had finally snapped.

In that moment, Luca was the embodiment of vengeance, his soul consumed by a hunger for retribution. He was the master of Giovanni's fate, and he would not rest until he had claimed his pound of flesh.

The silence was oppressive, the only sound the heavy breathing of the three men. Luca's finger trembled on the trigger, his eyes fixed on Giovanni's face.

And then, in an instant, it was over. Luca pulled the trigger, and Giovanni's body slumped to the ground, his eyes frozen in a permanent stare.

------------------------------------

Stelle's eyes widened as Luca walked through the door, his face a mask of silence. She had never seen him like this before, his eyes cold and distant. She knew something was wrong, and her heart began to race.

"Luca?" she ventured, her voice barely above a whisper. "What's wrong?"

Luca didn't respond, his gaze fixed on some point beyond her. Stelle's mind raced as she tried to read his expression. And then, it hit her - the realization that made her blood run cold.

"Giovanni," she whispered, her eyes locked on Luca's face. "What did you do?"

Luca's eyes flickered, a hint of emotion flashing across his face. And in that moment, Stelle knew. She knew that Luca had finally exacted his revenge, that he had killed Giovanni.

Stelle's heart raced as she processed the truth. She didn't know how to feel - relief, fear, or sadness. All she knew was that everything had changed, and nothing would ever be the same again.

"Luca," she whispered, her voice trembling. "What have you done?"

Luca's eyes finally focused on hers, his gaze burning with intensity. "I did what needed to be done," he said, his voice low and husky. "I protected us, Stelle. I protected our future."

Stelle's eyes searched his face, trying to understand the man before her. She saw the pain, the anger, and the determination. And in that moment, she knew that she would stand by him, no matter what lay ahead.

Stelle's anger boiled over, and she lashed out at Luca, her hand flying towards his face. But instead of blocking her blow or retaliating, Luca simply stood there, his eyes filled with a deep sadness. He let her hit him, her hand connecting with his cheek with a loud slap.

The force of the blow sent Luca's head snapping to the side, but he didn't flinch. He didn't even raise a hand to touch the red mark blooming on his cheek. He just stood there, his eyes fixed on Stelle's face, filled with a deep sorrow.

Stelle's anger faltered, her hand trembling as she realized what she had done. She had never hit anyone before, and the shock of her own violence left her breathless.

Luca's voice was barely above a whisper. "I understand, Stelle. I know you're angry. I know you're hurt. But I did what I had to do."

And with that, he turned and walked away, leaving Stelle alone in the room, her anger and guilt swirling together in a toxic mix. She felt a wave of shame wash over her, and she collapsed to the floor, her body wracked with sobs.

Luca didn't look back, didn't stop until he was out of the room, out of the house, and into the darkness of the night. He walked alone, his heart heavy with the weight of his actions, his soul tormented by the knowledge of what he had done.

Stelle stood in her new home, a small but cozy house on the outskirts of town. She had insisted on living alone, and Luca had respected her wishes, despite his own desires to be with her.

She knew Luca felt guilty for killing her father and brother, and she couldn't blame him. She still grappled with the emotions herself, the pain and anger and sadness. But she also knew that Luca had done what he thought was necessary to protect her, to protect them all.

Stelle sighed, her eyes wandering around the empty rooms. She had few possessions, but she was determined to make a new life for herself here. She would not be defined by the past, by the tragedies that had befallen her family.

There was a knock at the door, and Stelle's heart skipped a beat. She knew it was Luca, come to check on her. She opened the door, and he stood there, his eyes filled with concern.

"Hey," he said softly. "How are you doing?"

Stelle shrugged, trying to appear stronger than she felt. "I'm okay, Luca. Just trying to settle in."

Luca nodded, his eyes never leaving hers. "I know it's hard, Stelle. But I'm here for you. Always."

Stelle felt a pang in her heart, a mix of emotions that she couldn't quite untangle. She knew Luca loved her, but she was still struggling to come to terms with everything that had happened.

"Thanks, Luca," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. "That means a lot to me."

Luca smiled, a small, sad smile. "I'll always be here for you, Stelle. No matter what."