Breaking Down His Walls

18 - Truth hurts

The atmosphere in the King mansion had been heavy since Luca left. Although he had been gone for a while, Amelia could still feel his absence like a missing piece of a puzzle. However, with Luca's return, she expected some kind of relief—a sense of normalcy. But it never came. Instead, things only felt more tense, more secretive.

Vincent had left on business once again and her father frequently called to check in, but each conversation was brief. When she mentioned feeling uneasy, he quickly reassured her that everything was fine, but he always sounded distracted. There was a strange distance growing between her and her father, a gap she couldn't quite bridge. He had placed her in the King family's care, but it was becoming increasingly clear that he might not be fully transparent with her either. And that unnerved her even more.

One night, after Luca had returned from his mysterious trip, Amelia found herself wandering the halls of the mansion. The unease that had been building inside her wouldn't settle. She tried distracting herself with studying for university, texting her friend Tasha, or even scrolling through her social media feed, but nothing could shake the feeling that something was wrong.

It wasn't just the tension between Greyson and Luca, or the fact that Matteo seemed unusually subdued since Luca's return. It was the strange conversations she'd overhear—ones that stopped abruptly when she walked into the room, or the cryptic glances exchanged between the brothers. Even the guards seemed to stand on edge, as if waiting for something to happen.

Amelia couldn't ignore the feeling any longer. There was something off about this family, about the way they operated. Her instincts told her that whatever it was, it wasn't innocent.

As she walked past Vincent's study—one of the few rooms that had always seemed closed off to her—she hesitated. The door wasn't shut all the way, and she could hear voices coming from inside. She knew it wasn't polite to eavesdrop, but something pulled her closer. Maybe it was the nagging curiosity, or maybe it was the need for answers.

Inside, Luca's deep voice was steady but clipped. "We can't afford to make mistakes now. Especially with everything we've got lined up."

"This is getting out of hand," Matteo's voice was sharp, tinged with frustration. "With dad gone, the territory is vulnerable. We need to move fast."

"I know," Luca replied, his tone clipped. "We're already being watched. The last thing we need is for them to think we're weak."

Amelia's heart skipped a beat. Watched? Weak? Territory? What were they talking about?

"I still don't trust the Russians," Greyson continued, his voice low and dangerous. "One wrong move and—"

"Grey, we have to be careful. Dad isn't here to clean up any mess we make," Matteo cut in. "And with Amelia around..."

Her name. They were talking about her. Amelia's stomach twisted into knots, and a chill ran down her spine. What did they mean by territory and being watched? Why would they need to be careful with her around?

Suddenly, Matteo's gaze flickered towards the door, and she froze. He didn't see her yet, but she didn't dare move. The last thing she wanted was for them to know she was eavesdropping.

"Look," Luca said, lowering his voice even more. "I don't like keeping her in the dark either, but it's for her safety. She's better off not knowing."

Amelia's pulse quickened. Who they really are? What was he talking about?

Matteo chuckled, though it lacked his usual warmth. "She's smart, Luca. She's already noticing things. You can only keep her in the dark for so long before she starts putting the pieces together."