Crimson vows

**Chapter 12: Beneath the Surface**

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**Valentina's POV**

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The sleek black car pulls up to a secluded mansion, hidden behind towering iron gates and lush trees. I peer through the tinted window, my heart pounding in my chest as Luca parks and steps out without a word. The place feels like a fortress—cold, unwelcoming, a reflection of the man who inhabits it.

Luca opens my door, his face unreadable as I step out. The air is thick with tension, and I can feel the weight of his world pressing down on me even before we reach the entrance. The family is here—the ones Luca warned me about.

I have to prove myself. And if I'm being honest, I'm scared to death.

"Stay close," Luca murmurs as we walk side by side, his hand brushing against mine but never fully touching. It's as if he's fighting an invisible battle with himself, torn between keeping me at a distance and pulling me in.

I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat. The mansion looms ahead, its stone facade dark and imposing. The door opens before we even reach it, and a tall, burly man with a grim expression steps aside to let us in.

The inside is just as cold as the outside. High ceilings, dark wood, and marble floors. Everything about this place screams power and control. I try to steady my breathing, reminding myself why I'm here—why I chose to stand by Luca's side.

As we enter the grand living room, several sets of eyes turn to us, each one sizing me up with a mixture of suspicion and disdain. These are Luca's people—the ones who will either accept me or eat me alive.

The silence is thick as we approach a group of men sitting around a large mahogany table. At the head of the table sits a man who must be the head of the family, his eyes sharp and calculating as they lock onto Luca.

"You're late," the man says, his voice low and dangerous.

Luca doesn't flinch. "Had business to take care of."

The man's gaze flickers to me, and I can feel the weight of his scrutiny. "And this must be Valentina."

I square my shoulders, forcing myself to meet his eyes. "Yes."

His lips curl into something that's not quite a smile. "You've caused quite a stir, you know that?"

I don't answer, unsure if it's a question or a threat. Luca stands rigid beside me, his hand brushing the small of my back—a subtle gesture of reassurance. Or maybe a warning to keep quiet. Either way, I'm not backing down.

"I know what's at stake," I say, my voice steady despite the tension in the room. "I'm not here to be a liability."

The man's eyes narrow, as if he's assessing whether I'm worth his time. "You're either a liability or an asset. There's no in-between in our world."

Luca steps forward, his voice hard. "She's an asset. She's with me."

There's a flicker of something in the man's gaze—maybe respect, maybe doubt—but he leans back in his chair, his expression unreadable. "We'll see about that."

The rest of the men around the table remain silent, their gazes shifting between me and Luca. It's clear that they're waiting for something—some sign that I'm either worth trusting or worth discarding.

I glance at Luca, but his face is unreadable. This is my moment. If I fail here, I'm done.

"I didn't ask to be part of this," I say, my voice firm but careful. "But I am now. And I'm not running. If Matvey thinks he can use me against Luca, he's wrong."

A murmur runs through the room at the mention of Matvey's name. The man at the head of the table narrows his eyes.

"And what makes you think you can handle Matvey?" he asks, his tone full of doubt. "He's not some street thug. He's a killer. A predator."

I swallow, my pulse racing, but I hold my ground. "I know who Matvey is. And I know what he's capable of. But I'm not afraid of him."

The man leans forward, his gaze piercing. "You should be."

"I am," I admit, surprising myself with the honesty in my voice. "But fear isn't going to stop me. I've lost too much already to let him take anything else from me."

The silence that follows is heavy, and I can feel the weight of their judgment hanging in the air. For a moment, I wonder if I've said too much—if my words will be seen as weakness instead of strength.

But then Luca speaks, his voice low and firm. "She's with me. And she's more than capable of handling herself."

The man at the head of the table considers this, his eyes flicking between Luca and me before he finally nods, leaning back in his chair with a small, almost amused smile. "Very well. But remember, Luca, she's your responsibility. If she becomes a liability..."

"She won't," Luca says sharply, cutting him off.

There's a beat of tense silence before the man nods again. "Let's hope not."

The meeting continues, the conversation shifting to plans and strategies for dealing with Matvey. I try to follow along, but the tension in the room is suffocating. These men speak in code, their words laced with hidden threats and power plays. It's clear that every move they make is calculated, every decision made with the intention of survival.

I glance at Luca, his face hard and focused as he speaks with the others. There's something terrifying and magnetic about him in this moment—like he's in his element, completely in control. It's a side of him I haven't fully seen before, and it makes me realize just how deep his world goes.

I'm in this now. There's no turning back.

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**Luca's POV**

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As soon as the meeting ends, I feel the tension in my shoulders ease just slightly. Valentina held her ground, and that's something. But I know it's only a matter of time before they test her limits.

I glance at her as we step outside the mansion, the cool night air washing over us. She's silent, her expression unreadable as she stares ahead, lost in thought.

"You did well," I say quietly, hoping to break the silence between us.

She turns to me, her eyes flickering with a mixture of emotions. "Did I?"

I nod. "You didn't back down. That's what they needed to see."

Valentina crosses her arms, exhaling slowly. "I don't know if I can do this, Luca. Your world... it's brutal."

I stop, turning to face her. "You can do this. You're stronger than you think."

She meets my gaze, her eyes searching mine for something—reassurance, maybe. Or truth. "Why me? Why did you pull me into this?"

I hesitate, knowing the answer isn't simple. "Because I had no choice."

Her brow furrows, and I can see the hurt flash in her eyes. "No choice? Or because you wanted to?"

I don't answer right away, and the silence stretches between us. The truth is, I did want to pull her in. I wanted to protect her, to keep her close. But now that she's here, I can't ignore the fact that she's vulnerable in a way I've never allowed anyone to be before.

"I didn't want you to get hurt," I finally admit, my voice rough. "But now that you're in this... there's no going back."

She stares at me for a long moment, and I can see the struggle in her eyes—the fear, the uncertainty, but also the determination that's been growing inside her.

"Then let's make sure we win," she says softly, her voice full of resolve.

I feel something shift between us in that moment—something unspoken, but undeniable. We're in this together now, and there's no turning back. Not for either of us.