Shadows of Redempthion

Chapter Six

Luca's P.O.V

The sound of the door slamming shut echoed through the office, the vibrations reverberating up my spine. I stood alone, fists clenched on the mahogany desk, staring at the documents scattered before me. Business had been suffering, not in a financial sense, but in the sense that my attention was elsewhere, constantly drifting to thoughts of Elena.

It had been three weeks since our night together, and not a day had passed without my mind returning to her. Her green eyes, the softness of her voice, the vulnerability mixed with determination that made me want to shield her from every danger — it was maddening. She had slipped out before I could wake, and the emptiness she left behind gnawed at me, a persistent ache that refused to subside.

"Boss, are you alright?" Giovanni's voice broke through my thoughts. He stood in the doorway, his usual skeptical expression fixed on me. "We have a meeting with the East Side guys in an hour."

"Yeah, I'm fine," I muttered, straightening up and running a hand through my hair. "Let's get this over with."

As we headed to the meeting, I couldn't shake the distraction. I had poured resources into finding Elena — discreet inquiries, surveillance, even tracing her steps from the night she vanished. It wasn't hard to track her to the rundown motel she had checked into initially, but after that, she had vanished like a ghost. It frustrated me to no end, and my work had suffered because of it.

Uncle Antonio had noticed. Of course he had. Nothing escaped his watchful eyes. He had confronted me more than once about my divided focus, his voice dripping with disdain. "You can't afford distractions, Luca. Not in our line of work," he'd warned, his gaze cold and unyielding.

The meeting went as expected — tense negotiations, thinly veiled threats, and ultimately, an uneasy agreement. My mind, however, remained preoccupied. I needed to find Elena, to understand why she had left, to ensure she was safe.

Returning to my office, I found a new report on my desk. It was from a private investigator I had hired, detailing what they had uncovered about Elena's past. I read through the report, my heart tightening with each revelation.

She had grown up in South Carolina, bouncing between foster homes after her parents' deaths. She had earned a master's degree in psychology, a testament to her resilience and intelligence. But then came the darker details — the abusive ex-boyfriend, the bruises she had endured, and her eventual escape to Chicago. It was no wonder she had run; she had been trying to protect herself.

I couldn't help but admire her strength, but it also fueled my determination. She had been through so much, and yet she kept moving forward. I had to find her, not just for my sake, but because I couldn't bear the thought of her struggling alone in a city like Chicago.

The next few days were a blur of mafia duties and continued searches for Elena. I juggled meetings, dealt with rival families, and managed our operations, all while keeping an ear out for any news of her. Each night ended the same — with me staring out at the city from my penthouse, wondering where she was and if she was alright.

One evening, as I was going through the latest batch of reports, Giovanni walked in, his expression more serious than usual. "Boss, we might have a lead on the girl."

My heart leapt, but I kept my voice steady. "What do you have?"

"She's been seen working at a small bookstore a few blocks from here. We've confirmed it's her."

Relief and anticipation flooded through me. "Good. I'll handle it from here."

Giovanni nodded and left, and I leaned back in my chair, processing the information. She was so close, and yet, I had to be careful. I couldn't just barge into her life and scare her away again.

I stood, pacing the office. There was a delicate balance to strike here. I needed to see her, to talk to her, but I also needed to respect her space. The urge to protect her was overwhelming, and it took every ounce of self-control to keep from rushing to the bookstore that very moment.

Instead, I decided to plan my approach carefully. Tomorrow, I would go to the bookstore, see her from a distance, and figure out the best way to reintroduce myself into her life. She had been through enough, and I needed to ensure that my presence would be a source of comfort, not fear.

As the city lights twinkled outside, I felt a renewed sense of purpose. Finding Elena was more than just an obsession; it was a necessity. She had awakened something in me, something I couldn't ignore, and I was determined to see it through.