Crimson vows

**Chapter 10: Dangerous Truths**

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**Valentina's POV**

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My heart is still pounding as I stare at Luca. The taste of him lingers on my lips, a blend of fury and desire that leaves me dizzy, breathless. He's staring at me, his chest heaving, his eyes dark and wild—like a man on the edge of losing control.

Part of me should be terrified, but I'm not. I've never felt more alive.

"Why do you keep fighting this?" I whisper, my voice trembling despite the defiance burning inside me.

He looks away for a second, as if gathering his thoughts, his fists clenching at his sides. When he finally meets my gaze again, the raw intensity in his eyes is enough to make me want to crawl into his arms—or run.

"You don't understand, Valentina," he says, his voice rough with frustration. "You think you can handle this, handle *me*, but you have no idea how far this goes."

"Then tell me," I insist, stepping closer, my voice firmer now. "Stop shutting me out. If I'm part of this now, I deserve to know everything."

He stares at me, silent for a moment, his jaw tense. The air between us feels thick, like the tension is about to snap. I can see the battle playing out behind his eyes, the war between wanting to protect me and wanting to let me in.

Then, with a resigned sigh, he speaks.

"There are things you don't know about Matvey. About why this is happening. It's not just about territory or power." His voice drops, becoming dangerously low. "It's personal."

I freeze, my heart skipping a beat. "Personal? What do you mean?"

He steps closer, his presence overwhelming, like a storm about to break. "Matvey and my family have history. Bloodshed. Death." His eyes darken, and I can feel the weight of the secrets he's been carrying. "This war? It's been brewing for years. And now, he's found a way to use you as leverage."

I blink, the gravity of his words sinking in. "Leverage? What do you mean?"

His gaze locks onto mine, and I see the truth in his eyes before he even speaks.

"He wants you because he thinks it'll break me."

The room feels like it's spinning. I take a step back, my mind racing. All this time, I thought I was just caught in the crossfire of a power struggle. But now, Luca is telling me that *I'm* the target.

"I—why me?" I manage to choke out, my voice barely a whisper. "I'm nobody. Just a girl who got caught up in this mess."

"You're more than that," Luca says, his voice hardening. "Your father's death wasn't an accident. Matvey planned it. He knew what it would do to you—how it would leave you vulnerable, and how I'd be forced to protect you. You were always part of his plan."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut, leaving me breathless. I stumble back, my hands shaking as I try to process what he's saying. My father's death... wasn't random? It wasn't just some freak accident?

Tears sting the back of my eyes, but I force them down. I won't cry. Not now. Not in front of Luca.

"What did my father have to do with this?" I ask, my voice cracking despite my efforts to stay strong.

Luca hesitates, his eyes searching mine as if deciding how much to tell me. "Your father was more involved in this world than you realize. He had connections, alliances... ones that Matvey needed to destroy. Your father was a threat."

"A threat?" I repeat, my voice trembling. "He was just a businessman."

Luca's expression softens, but there's no comfort in his eyes. "He was more than that, Valentina. He was a player in this game, even if you didn't see it. And when he died, Matvey knew it would leave you exposed. He wanted to hurt me through you. To use you to get to me."