"Had a nice talk?"
Valentina spun around in fright. He stood behind her, hands in his pockets. His face was calm. Her heart nearly tore through her ribs. "Are you following me now?!"
Luca’s mouth curved faintly. "You know what they say. Keep your friends close and your annoying family members closer."
"You are insane."
"Yes, we covered that during your little betrayal arc." His eyes moved briefly to the building behind her. "Is this how Voss plans to protect you?"
"Get away from me!" She shoved him.
Luca barely shifted. His hand moved faster than her next breath. He snatched the keys from her fingers, caught her arm, and pulled her towards the passenger side.
"Let go of me!"
"Get in the fucking car."
She fought him anyway, twisting against his grip, her breath coming hard. Luca opened the passenger door and stuffed her inside. "Luca!" she shouted, scrambling upright.
He leaned in, eyes blazing now. "You have five seconds to stop acting like a child." He stepped back and slammed the door.
Just then, Voss came out of the building with his gun drawn. "Step away from her, Luciano!"
Luca turned around. His eyes were filled with fire. He marched towards Voss. The gun did not slow him.
"Stop or I shoot!" Voss shouted.
Luca ignored the warning. Voss adjusted his stance, grip tightening.
Val shoved at the passenger door, panic returning full force. "Luca, stop!"
He reached Voss, drew his hand back, and punched him in the face. Voss staggered, his gun dipping before he caught himself against the side of a parked car.
"My sister-in-law?!" Luca roared.
Voss wiped blood from his mouth, breathing hard.
"You son of a bitch," Luca spat. "My sister-in-law?!"
Voss straightened then he laughed. "I got you good, uhn?" he chuckled. "If I had known she would be my big break," he continued, blood on his teeth, "I wouldn’t have spent so much time on your wife."
Luca stepped closer. Voss lifted the gun again. Luca did not even look at the gun. "This is how you protect her?" he asked, voice low now. "You fucker."
"Step back."
"If anything happens to her, Voss..."
"Step back, Luciano."
Luca stepped closer instead, his violence barely agreeing to remain inside skin. Valentina’s breath came in tiny, useless pieces. Luca leaned close enough that the barrel of Voss’s gun touched him. "If my wife spills one tear because of her...I’m going to chop you into small, tiny pieces."
"You’re going down, Luca," Voss threatened.
Now, it was time for Luca to smile.
"You would think that, wouldn’t you?" Luca turned away from him without another word and got into Valentina’s car.
Val sat stiffly in the passenger seat, breathing hard, one hand braced against the dashboard. Luca started the engine and sped off, leaving Voss standing in the street with his gun lowered, his face bruised.
The silence inside the car was furious. Valentina stared straight ahead, every part of her shaking with rage. She hated him, she was finally now realising that.

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