Shattered Vows

Betrayal

The night was still, an unnatural calm blanketing Luca’s mansion.

The low hum of distant city life barely reached the fortress-like walls of the estate, where Luca’s empire stood proud and unshakable.

Or so it seemed.

Luca De Santis sat behind his desk, reviewing reports with his usual meticulous attention.

The weight of his responsibilities pressed heavily on him tonight, more than usual.

Isa’s presence in his life had shifted something inside him—a vulnerability he didn’t dare acknowledge but couldn’t ignore.

His mind, once sharp and calculated, now wandered back to her more often than he cared to admit.

A knock interrupted his thoughts, and Enzo stepped into the room.

Luca’s most trusted lieutenant, the man who had stood by his side through blood and fire, wore a troubled expression.

“We need to talk,” Enzo said, his voice unusually tense.

Luca leaned back, his sharp eyes narrowing at Enzo’s tone. “What is it?”

Enzo hesitated for a moment, his gaze flicking toward the closed door as if to ensure no one else was listening.

“It’s about Isa.”

Luca’s chest tightened involuntarily. His possessive nature flared, but he pushed it down. “Go on.”

“I’ve been hearing things,” Enzo began, stepping closer, his voice lowered.

“Antonio Moretti has been making moves—gathering men, securing weapons. I think he’s planning something, something big.”

Luca’s jaw clenched. He had anticipated Antonio’s retaliation, but the mere mention of Isa being involved ignited a fury inside him.

“Let him come. I’ll be ready.”

But Enzo didn’t look convinced. He paced in front of Luca’s desk, a rare display of uncertainty.

“Luca, there’s more. One of our men… I found out he’s been in contact with Antonio. He’s been feeding him information.”

A long silence stretched between them as Luca processed the news.

Betrayal. In his own house. His hands curled into fists, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop.

“Who?” Luca’s voice was deadly calm, but his anger simmered just beneath the surface.

Enzo exhaled slowly, as if bracing himself. “Marco. He’s been with us for years, but he’s gone rogue.

I’ve been keeping an eye on him, but I didn’t want to move until I was sure.”

Luca’s eyes darkened. Marco. The man had been loyal—or so Luca had thought. Rage boiled inside him.

Trust was not something he gave easily, and Marco had shattered it.

“I want him found,” Luca growled, his voice low but filled with lethal intent.

“I want to know everything he’s told Antonio.”

Enzo nodded, but the look on his face told Luca that wasn’t the worst of it.

“There’s something else.” Enzo paused, his jaw tight. “I think Marco’s betrayal goes deeper. He’s been too close to Isa, watching her.

He might have been trying to use her—maybe even feeding her lies, trying to turn her against you.”

Luca’s heart dropped, his possessiveness snapping into something darker, more dangerous.

He rose from his chair, the room feeling suddenly too small, too confining.

The thought of Isa being manipulated, of someone using her as a pawn in this twisted game, made his blood run cold.

“I’ll kill him myself,” Luca snarled, pacing to the window, staring out into the darkened grounds.

“If he’s put her in danger, there will be no mercy.”

Enzo watched Luca carefully, his own face hard with resolve.

“We’ll find him. But Luca, Isa needs to know. If she’s been caught in this, we need to protect her.”

Luca’s hands clenched into fists. He knew Enzo was right, but confronting Isa about this—about her potential involvement, whether willingly or not—tore at something deep inside him.

He had sworn to protect her, to keep her safe from men like Antonio.

But now, the idea that someone within his own circle had betrayed him and might have compromised Isa’s safety was too much.

“Bring her to me,” Luca ordered, his voice thick with restrained emotion. “Now.”

Enzo left the room without another word, and Luca stood in the silence, his mind racing.

He had always been a man in control, always one step ahead of his enemies. But Isa… she had changed things.

She had crept past his defenses, made him feel things he hadn’t allowed himself to feel in years.

When Isa entered the room, escorted by Enzo, her wide eyes met Luca’s. There was confusion, worry—she could sense something was wrong.

“Luca?” she asked softly, stepping forward. “What’s going on?”

Luca’s expression was unreadable as he stared at her, trying to read the truth in her gaze.

Could she have been part of this betrayal? Could she have known what Marco was doing?

“Sit down, Isa,” he said, his voice colder than he intended.

Isa hesitated but obeyed, her hands trembling slightly as she perched on the edge of the chair. “Luca, please… tell me what’s happening.”

He stepped closer, his tall frame casting a shadow over her.

“Antonio has been making plans. And one of my men has been working with him. Feeding him information.

And that man—Marco—has been close to you.”

Isa’s face paled, her lips parting in shock. “Marco? But… I don’t understand. I never—”

Luca cut her off, his gaze hard. “I need to know if he’s told you anything.

If you’ve spoken with him—anything out of the ordinary.”

Isa shook her head, her voice shaking. “No, Luca.

I haven’t—he’s just one of your men. I don’t… I don’t talk to him about anything. I swear.”

Luca watched her closely, searching for any hint of deception.

But all he saw was fear—fear of what might happen next, fear of the world closing in around her.

He wanted to believe her. He *needed* to believe her.

“I’ll keep you safe,” Luca said finally, his voice softer now.

“But from now on, you don’t go anywhere without my permission. You don’t speak to anyone I haven’t approved. Do you understand?”

Isa nodded, her eyes wide with uncertainty, but she didn’t argue.

Luca reached out, brushing a strand of hair away from her face, his touch lingering longer than it should have.

“I’ll protect you,” he whispered, more to himself than to her.

But as Luca pulled away, the weight of betrayal still hung heavily in the air.

And he knew the game was far from over.