Page 25 of His Son's Ex

Luca freezes, his lips parting like a fish gasping for air.

For a second, I catch a flash of panic mixed with hesitation in his expression.

Then he straightens his shoulders and lifts his chin in entitlement.

“I’m the heir to this family. I can’t put myself at risk like that,” he says to her before quickly adding, “And besides, I needed to make sure my new bride got out safely.”

He says it like it’s strategy, not cowardice. Like he’s convinced himself that staying alive was some tactical genius move. But I can tell.

He ran.

Sarah lets out a shaky breath, pressing herself closer to him, but I don’t miss the flicker of doubt in her teary eyes.

Bullshit. He ran, probably not giving a flying fuck where Sarah was as long as he got out alive. I can see it all over his face.

Fucking coward.

Sarah looks like she wants to believe him, but then her face crumples, and she lets out a hiccupping sob.“My wedding is ruined,” she wails, gripping Luca harder. “This is what people will remember! Not the vows, not my dress—just gunfire and chaos! Oh my God, my pictures. This is a nightmare.”

Halsey, standing next to me, lets out a slow, incredulous breath. “Wow. People were literally getting shot at and pistol-whipped back there, but yeah, let’s all take a moment to grieve your wedding aesthetic.”

Sarah sucks in a sharp breath, scandalized.

Luca glares at Halsey, but he doesn’t say a damn thing, just clenches his jaw.

I cross my arms over my chest, giving Sarah a hard look. “Maybe you should rethink your priorities. Some people might not be walking away from this.”

Her mouth snaps shut, her lower lip trembling. Luca shifts beside her, tense, looking like he’d rather be anywhere else.

I shove my hand into my purse, fumbling for my phone.

“What are you doing?” Luca snaps.

“Calling 911.”

He grabs my arm. “Don’t. The cops will arrest half of my guests. You think my father wants that?”

“People are hurt in there.”

He doesn’t argue, he knows I’m right.

I know I’m not supposed to.

That there are rules in rooms like these. But blood is blood, and someone inside might be dying. If the Bellacinos want to bury the call later, fine. But I won’t be the woman who walked away and did nothing

I punch in the number and quickly give the dispatcher the address. “Gunshots fired. Multiple armed suspects. People are injured.”

Once she confirms units are on the way, I hang up, shoving my phone back into my purse. The distant wail of sirens seconds later sends a shiver through me.

Halsey grabs my hand. “We can’t be here when the police show up, especially with them.” She jerks her chin at Luca and Sarah. “We’ll be stuck here giving statements for hours.”

Sarah wrings her hands, glancing between us. “Where are you going?”

“Anywhere but here,” Halsey mutters.

Halsey tugs me forward. As we rush down the alley, she flags down a cab and we quickly climb in. She rattles off my address, and the car pulls away.

The tension begins to uncoil in my body, but a sharp, hollow ache remains.