Shattered Vows

The mask slip

The tension between them had grown, a delicate thread of unspoken truths and simmering emotions that neither Isa nor Luca could ignore any longer.

Isa had begun to see glimpses of the man beneath Luca's carefully constructed mask—the one he used to shield himself from the world. But tonight, something was different.

There was a change in the air, an undercurrent of something darker and more volatile.

It had been a few days since their encounter in the garden, where Luca had shown a side of himself that Isa hadn’t expected.

He had been vulnerable, raw, for just a moment. Since then, he had retreated, his demeanor once again cold and distant, as if that brief lapse had been a mistake he could not afford.

But Isa couldn’t forget it. It was as though she had seen behind a curtain, and now she was unable to unsee the man beneath.

Luca was more than just the ruthless mafia don who controlled her life. He was also a man, broken in his own way, torn between the power he wielded and the fragility he hid from the world.

She found herself wandering the halls of the mansion again, unable to sleep. The darkness that hung over the estate seemed heavier tonight, the silence oppressive.

Isa had grown used to the quiet, but tonight it felt ominous, like something was lurking just out of sight, waiting to reveal itself.

As she passed by Luca’s office, she noticed the door was slightly ajar, the faint glow of light spilling out into the hallway.

She hesitated for a moment, her curiosity getting the better of her. Slowly, she inched closer, peering through the crack in the door.

Luca was inside, but he wasn’t alone. Enzo stood across from him, arms crossed, his face a mask of frustration.

The tension between the two men was palpable, and Isa could hear the low hum of their voices, though she couldn’t make out what they were saying.

She leaned in closer, straining to hear.

“You’re losing your edge, Luca,” Enzo’s voice was sharp, barely controlled. “You’re letting her get to you.”

Isa’s heart skipped a beat. Were they talking about her?

“I’m not losing anything,” Luca shot back, his voice low but full of menace. “Don’t question me.”

“You’re slipping. I’ve seen it,” Enzo pressed, his frustration growing. “You’ve never let anyone affect you like this. She’s a distraction, and you know it.”

Isa’s blood ran cold. She had always known that she was a pawn in Luca’s world, but hearing it spoken aloud—hearing Enzo accuse Luca of being compromised because of her—it was like a punch to the gut.

Luca stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor.

“That’s enough,” he growled, his voice laced with warning. “I don’t need you to remind me of my responsibilities.”

Enzo didn’t back down. “You’ve built an empire on control, Luca.

You can’t afford to let that slip now—not for her. If the other families sense weakness, they’ll come for you. They’ll come for all of us.”

Isa’s heart pounded in her chest. She should leave. She shouldn’t be listening to this. But something kept her rooted to the spot, unable to tear herself away.

Luca’s expression darkened, and for a moment, the mask he always wore seemed to crack. There was something in his eyes—something dangerous, unhinged. “I said enough, Enzo.”

For a second, Enzo hesitated, then shook his head in frustration. “You’re making a mistake.”

Without another word, he turned and stormed out of the office, the door swinging open wide enough for Isa to be exposed.

She quickly ducked into the shadows, holding her breath as Enzo’s footsteps faded down the hallway.

When she was sure he was gone, Isa took a step back, ready to slip away unnoticed. But before she could retreat, she heard Luca’s voice, low and sharp.

“You can come in now, Isabella.”

Her heart stopped. He had known she was there the whole time.

With a deep breath, Isa stepped into the room, her eyes meeting Luca’s across the dimly lit office.

His face was impassive, but his eyes were darker than usual, swirling with a storm of emotions she couldn’t quite place.

“You’re not as invisible as you think,” he said quietly, leaning against his desk.

His tone was calm, but there was an edge to it, a hint of something dangerous just beneath the surface.

“I wasn’t trying to spy on you,” Isa said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I just—”

“You heard enough.” Luca cut her off, his gaze piercing. “I’m not blind, Isa. I know you’ve been watching, listening.”

Isa’s throat went dry. She wanted to deny it, to say she hadn’t been paying attention, but what would be the point?

He would see right through her lie.

“I didn’t mean to,” she admitted, her voice small. “I just—wanted to understand.”

Luca’s eyes narrowed slightly, and for a long moment, he said nothing.

The silence stretched between them, thick with tension. Then, slowly, he pushed away from the desk and took a step toward her.

“You think you can understand this world?” he asked, his voice soft but full of menace. “You think you can understand me?”

Isa stood her ground, though her heart was racing.

“I think there’s more to you than what you show the world,” she said quietly. “You hide behind this... mask, but I’ve seen it slip. I’ve seen the cracks.”

Luca’s expression hardened, and for a moment, she thought she had crossed a line.

But then, to her surprise, he laughed—low and dark, the sound sending a chill down her spine.

“Careful, Isa,” he said, his voice like velvet over steel. “You’re playing a dangerous game.”

She swallowed hard, but didn’t back down. “Maybe I am. But so are you.”

Luca’s eyes flickered with something—anger, maybe, or amusement.

She couldn’t tell. He took another step closer, his presence overwhelming, and Isa felt her pulse quicken.

“You think you’ve seen the real me?” he asked, his voice barely a whisper now, his breath warm against her skin.

“You don’t know anything.”

Isa held his gaze, refusing to look away, even though every instinct told her to run.

“Then show me,” she whispered. “Show me who you really are.”

For a moment, Luca didn’t move. His eyes locked on hers, the air between them charged with a tension so thick it was almost suffocating.

Then, slowly, he reached up, his fingers brushing against her cheek, his touch surprisingly gentle.

“I warned you,” he murmured, his voice low and dangerous. “This isn’t a game you can win.”

But Isa didn’t flinch.

Instead, she stood her ground, her heart pounding in her chest as she stared into the eyes of the man who had captured her body, but not yet her spirit.

“I’m not trying to win,” she said quietly. “I’m trying to survive.”

Luca’s gaze darkened, and for a moment, the mask he wore slipped again, revealing a glimpse of the man beneath—the man who was just as trapped as she was.

And in that moment, Isa realized something.

Luca De Santis wasn’t invincible. He wasn’t untouchable.

He was human, after all.