What We Left in the Dark

Fifty

The smell of rosemary and garlic lingered in the air as I plated the roasted chicken and vegetables, carefully arranging the meal with a sense of purpose. Cooking for my mom always brought me some level of comfort, a connection to simpler times when life didn't feel like a constant chess game with invisible rules.

"This looks beautiful, Cat," Mom said, her eyes lighting up as I set the plates down on the table. She sat with a soft smile, her gratitude written plainly across her face.

"Figured I'd leave you with a proper meal before I head back," I replied, taking a seat across from her.

Her smile faltered slightly, and she tilted her head. "So soon?"

"I need to clean up my place before the work week starts," I said, though the words felt hollow. The truth was, I couldn't shake the unsettling presence of the men who had followed me earlier. I needed to face this situation head-on and get back to New Jersey before it spiraled further out of my control.

Mom nodded, her face thoughtful. "I understand. Just know you're always welcome here. No matter what's going on, this is home."

Her words sent a pang through my chest, but I forced a smile. "Thanks, Mom. That means a lot."

An hour later, I was driving up the long gravel driveway, my stomach twisting as I neared the top. Sure enough, the black sedan sat parked just feet down the road, its dark presence unmistakable. My grip tightened on the steering wheel as I pulled up alongside them.

I rolled down my window, my voice steady despite the knot forming in my stomach. "I assume you know we can't just ditch my car here. It's too recognizable, and you'll have a missing persons report to deal with."

The men exchanged a look, their silent communication unnerving. Finally, the driver turned to me, his expression unreadable. "Drive back to your apartment, and we will go from there."

I nodded, a dry chuckle escaping me. "I appreciate your flexibility, boys. This doesn't have to be so hard, huh?"

The driver smirked faintly, the first hint of humanity I'd seen from him. "Thank you for your compliance thus far."

I gave them a curt nod, rolling up the window and pulling back onto the road. My hands gripped the steering wheel tightly as I started the drive back to New Jersey, the sedan trailing close behind. The silence in the car felt heavy, my thoughts spinning as I tried to decide my next move.

For the first thirty minutes, I wrestled with whether or not to involve Gian and Luca. It wasn't just a matter of pride—it was the fear of dragging them deeper into whatever mess this was. But as the miles passed, I realized I didn't have the luxury of solving this alone. The Ricci name was a common thread in all of this, and they needed to know.

It took another thirty minutes of internal debate before I finally reached for my phone, dialing Luca's number. My pulse quickened with each ring until his voice finally came through the line.

"Cat?" His voice was brisk, tension threading through the single syllable.

"Hey," I began, trying to keep my tone casual. "Some lovely gentlemen came to get me in PA, saying they're with Ricci. I hope this wasn't a gift from you and your brother."

The line went dead silent, the weight of his pause pressing against my chest. When he finally spoke, his voice was low and measured, but the anger behind it was unmistakable. "Where are you?" His words passed through gritted teeth, each syllable laced with barely restrained fury.

I glanced at the darkened road ahead. "About an hour from the city. Heading back to my place."

I pulled into the dimly lit parking garage, the familiar hum of the fluorescent lights doing little to calm my nerves. My tires screeched slightly as I turned into my usual spot, the black sedan trailing me coming to a stop a few spaces away. My hands gripped the steering wheel, the weight of the situation pressing down hard as I turned off the engine.

I exhaled, trying to steady my breathing, but before I could even open my door, I caught movement from the corner of my eye. The goons weren't staying in the car this time. Both men exited and started walking toward me, their steps purposeful and their postures tense.

The hair on the back of my neck stood up as I glanced around the garage. It was eerily quiet, save for the faint echo of their footsteps. My apartment felt like a mile away, and there was no way I could make it upstairs before they reached me.

I opened the door slowly, stepping out but keeping the car between us as they closed the distance. My pulse thundered in my ears, but I forced myself to keep my face neutral. Showing fear would only embolden them.

"You just couldn't wait, huh?" I called out, trying to sound more confident than I felt.

One of the men smirked, his eyes narrowing. "We're under orders, miss. Can't let you out of our sight."

Before I could reply, the sound of car doors slamming reverberated through the garage. I froze, and so did the two men, their heads snapping toward the sound. My breath caught as figures emerged from two dark SUVs parked across the lot.

Luca was the first to step into the dim light, his expression a mixture of calm control and simmering fury. He was flanked by three other men, each with a no-nonsense demeanor that screamed they weren't here for polite conversation.

"Back away from her," Luca ordered, his voice low but commanding enough to echo off the concrete walls.

The goons hesitated for a fraction of a second before one of them scoffed, straightening his posture. "This doesn't concern you, boy."

"It does when you're after what's mine," Luca replied, stepping closer, his men following suit. "I won't tell you again."

The tension in the garage was suffocating. The two men exchanged a look, clearly weighing their options. They hadn't expected resistance, and certainly not this kind.

I glanced at Luca, my heart pounding. He looked as composed as ever, but I could see the tightness in his jaw, the subtle clench of his fists. His men, however, looked anything but calm. They were poised, ready to act if things escalated.

Finally, one of the goons raised his hands slightly, a gesture of mock surrender. Without another word, they backed away and retreated to their sedan. The tension didn't fully lift until their car roared to life and sped out of the garage, leaving behind a haze of exhaust and unease.

Luca turned to me, his expression softening slightly as he closed the remaining distance between us. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice quiet but laced with concern.

I nodded, though my legs felt like they might give out at any moment. "I didn't know what to do," I admitted, my voice shaky. "They didn't leave me any choice."

"You did the right thing," Luca assured me, placing a steadying hand on my arm. He glanced over his shoulder at his men, giving a brief nod before turning back to me. "Come on. Let's get you upstairs. You're not staying here alone tonight."

For once, I didn't argue.