Tormented Hearts (Tempo Mafia Familia #1)

LUCA 16

The warehouse was dark, lit only by the glow of flickering overhead lights and the occasional spark from a dying cigarette. Luca sat at the head of a long steel table, his expression hard as he listens to Miguel’s report.

Before Luca can respond, the door to the warehouse creaks open, and a figure steps inside. Luca’s jaw tightens the moment he sees her.

Bianca.

She is dressed to kill—literally. A tight black dress clings to her curves, and her long dark hair cascades over her shoulders. Her lips are painted a deep red, and there is a predatory gleam in her eyes as she saunters toward the table, her heels clicking on the concrete floor.

“Luca,” she purrs, her voice smooth and dangerous. “I thought I might find you here.”

Luca’s expression doesn’t soften as he watches her approach. Bianca is trouble—she always has been. She has been a part of his world for years, a woman who has risen through the ranks of the Tempo family thanks to her cunning and ruthlessness. But she has never been content with her position. She wants more. And she has always wanted Luca.

“Bianca,” Luca says coolly, his eyes narrowing. “What are you doing here?”

She smiles, her red lips curving into a dangerous smirk as she slids into a chair beside him. “I heard you’ve been busy,” she replies, ignoring the tension in the room. “Making quite the mess of things for the Romero’s.”

Luca’s jaw clenches, his patience already wearing thin. Bianca had a way of inserting herself into situations where she didn’t belong, and Luca didn’t trust her. Not one bit.

“What do you want?” Luca asks, his voice cold.

Bianca’s smile widens, and she leans in closer, her fingers brushing lightly over his arm. “I want to help,” she purrs, her eyes gleaming with something dangerous. “You know I’ve always had your back, Luca. We could make a great team.”

Luca pulls his arm away, his eyes hardening. He knew what Bianca wanted—she had been angling for his attention for years, trying to worm her way into his life, his bed, his power. But Luca had never let her get close. He couldn’t afford distractions, and Bianca was nothing if not a dangerous distraction.

“I don’t need your help,” Luca answers flatly, his voice laced with warning.

Bianca’s smile falters for a split second, but she recovers quickly, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Oh, but you do,” she continues, her voice dripping with false sweetness. “Especially with your little... songbird getting in the way.”

At the mention of Phoenix, Luca’s entire body tenses. His eyes flash with anger as he turns to face Bianca fully. “Leave Phoenix out of this.”

Bianca’s smirk returns, but there is something dark in her gaze. “She’s already in this, Luca. You’ve made sure of that.”

Luca’s fists clench, but before he can respond, Miguel steps in, his voice tense. “We’ve got more important things to deal with than this.”

Luca shoots one last cold look at Bianca before turning back to Miguel. He didn’t trust her, but right now, his focus needed to stay on the business at hand. Bianca could wait.

The tension in the city had reached a boiling point. Luca’s strikes had left the Romero’s on the verge of collapse, their leadership crippled, their operations in shambles. Every day, more of their men were either turning up dead or defecting, unwilling to go down with a sinking ship.

It was only a matter of time before their new leader made a move—one final desperate attempt to salvage what was left of his empire. Luca could feel it coming, like the calm before the storm.

And then, the call came.

Luca was in his office, reviewing the latest reports from his men, when his phone buzzed. He glanced at the number and frowned—it was one of his contacts, a neutral party with ties to both the Tempo and Romero families.

“Tempo,” Luca answers, his voice curt.

There was a brief pause, then the voice on the other end speaks. “Santino Romero wants to meet.”

Luca’s eyebrows lift, surprise flickering across his face for the first time in days. “A meeting?”

“He’s asking for a truce,” the contact explains. “He says he wants to talk. No more bloodshed.”

Luca’s lips curl into a cold smile. So, the Romero’s were finally bending the knee. They had no choice. He had them cornered, and now they were scrambling for a way out.

“When and where?” Luca asks, his voice calm but filled with authority.

“Tomorrow night. Neutral ground. He’ll send the details.”

Luca ends the call, his mind already working through the possibilities. A truce? It could be a trap, a way for the Romero’s to lure him into a vulnerable position. But Luca wasn’t a fool. He would go into the meeting fully prepared, with his men ready to strike if necessary.

Miguel entered the office just as Luca finishes the call, his face tense with anticipation. “What’s going on?”

Luca leans back in his chair, his fingers steepled as he regards Miguel. “The Romero’s want a truce. They’re asking for a meeting.”

Miguel’s eyes widen, his face darkening with suspicion. “A truce? Sounds like a setup.”

Luca nods. “It could be. But they’re desperate. We’ve backed them into a corner, and they know they can’t win. Santino wouldn’t ask for this if he wasn’t out of options.”

Miguel crosses his arms, his expression still wary. “You’re going to meet with them?”

Luca’s eyes narrow, his mind made up. “Yes. But we’re not going in blind. I want full surveillance on the location before we get there. No surprises.”

Miguel nods, already preparing to put the plan into action. But before he can leave, Luca speaks again, his voice lowering.

“Phoenix stays out of this,” Luca orders, his tone firm. “She doesn’t need to know.”

Miguel hesitates, then nods. “Got it.”

***

The night before the meeting, Luca and Phoenix are at the penthouse. Phoenix has sensed something was off all evening. Luca was quieter than usual, his body tense, his mind clearly elsewhere. He had told her it was nothing, that everything was under control, but Phoenix wasn’t convinced.

She didn’t trust the quiet.

Phoenix sat on the couch, watching Luca as he paced the room. “You’re hiding something,” she says softly, her voice filled with concern.

Luca pauses, his eyes flicking to hers. “I’m not.”

Phoenix frowns, standing up and walking toward him. “Don’t lie to me, Luca. I can feel it. Something’s happening, isn’t it?”

Luca’s jaw clenches, his heart heavy as he looks into her eyes. He wants to protect her from this, to keep her away from the war that was raging around them, but he knows that he can’t hide the truth forever.

“The Romero’s want a meeting,” Luca admits, his voice low. “They’re asking for a truce.”

Phoenix’s eyes widen. “A truce? After everything that’s happened?”

Luca nods. “They’re desperate. But it could be a trap.”

Phoenix swallows hard, her heart racing. “And you’re going to meet with them?”

“I have to,” Luca replies, his voice firm. “If this is the way to end the war, I have to take it. But I’ll be prepared.”

Phoenix’s heart aches at the thought of Luca walking into danger again, but she knows there was no stopping him. This was his world, and she was a part of it now, whether she liked it or not.

“Just... be careful,” Phoenix pleads, her voice trembling slightly.

Luca pulls her into his arms, holding her close. “I will. I promise.”