Page 13 of Entwined Lies (Entwined #1)

Luca

I leaned against the counter, coffee in hand, pretending it helped. But if I were being honest, a stiff drink would’ve hit better. Coffee was not going to fix this shit.

Last night had been tougher than I’d anticipated.

That hint of a blush betrayed where her mind was drifting, even as she tried to stay annoyed.

It had me fighting for control. There had been a moment—just a fleeting one—where I’d almost leaned in and kissed her.

Like some fucking idiot in a romance movie.

The thought of it lingered, replaying in my mind.

Her eyes daring me to cross the line, her lips parting just slightly…

She was craving it as much as I was, and if I’d gone for that kiss, it wouldn’t have stopped there.

But I hadn’t. She was too drunk to make that call.

And maybe I just had a thing for making my life harder than it needed to be.

The soft shuffle of her steps dragged me out of my thoughts, and when I saw her, I nearly choked on my coffee.

She looked way too damn comfortable, wearing nothing but a tank top and shorts that left little to the imagination.

Every curve was right there, a test I hadn’t signed up for this early in the morning.

I took another sip and swallowed down the reality that I’d rather sleep on the couch—except I’d already screwed myself with that cocky “I don’t do couches” line.

Sharing a room was supposed to be part of the plan—non- negotiable, even if I knew it’d be inconvenient.

But lying just inches away from her was pure torture.

The scent of coconut hung in the air and stirred up memories I didn’t need—the feel of her under me, wrists pinned, back arching.

I lasted maybe an hour before I grabbed my pillow and headed to the guest room.

Even there, I couldn’t shut my brain off.

So, as messed up as it was, I ended up in the gym, lifting weights when most people were still dead to the world.

She muttered, “Morning,” as she reached for a mug, clearly oblivious to the fact that my pulse was doing things it shouldn’t.

“Morning,” I watched her pour herself a coffee with unhurried movements.

As she took a sip, I caught the faintest scrunch of her nose. Just a small reaction, but enough for me to notice—guess the coffee wasn’t her style.

Alright, so it’s not some fancy five-dollar latte with extra foam and a shot of whatever, but it should do. I kept my mouth shut, though; no need for her to know I was clocking every little reaction.

“Sleep okay?” I asked, letting a little teasing edge slip into my voice.

She cut me a sideways look, deadpan. “About as well as you’d expect when everything’s on fire.”

Welcome to the club, sweetheart.

I hid my grin behind my mug. “Good to hear.”

She leaned her hip against the counter, wrapping both hands around the mug. “Alright. What exactly does this ‘advisor’ gig involve?”

“First, I introduce you to the people you’re about to trust with your life.”

Her eyebrow lifted. “And why do I need to know your people?”

“Because if you’re in this, you need to know who’s got your back, and they need to see you’re serious about this. ”

Isabelle sighed. “Fine. Just let me finish my coffee and get ready.”

“Relax. Eat something.” I gestured toward the table loaded with food. “I need to handle something first. We’ll leave in a couple of hours.”

She nodded and took another sip, that same tiny scrunch flashing across her nose before she buried it.

“And, Siren,” I called after her as she turned.

She looked back, eyebrow lifted.

“Be nice. They bite harder than I do.”

She rolled her eyes but smiled as she walked away. “No guarantees.”

Couldn’t help it—my gaze followed every curve, those damn shorts making it impossible not to notice every inch of her. She and her shorts. Trouble was an understatement, and I was already knee-deep.

I shook my head and headed to my office, fresh coffee in hand. There was a lot to deal with, starting with handling the fallout of my own choices.

I unlocked my phone and stared at the screen with Nico’s name on it before pressing call with a deep breath. He answered right away, dashing the slim hope that I’d have a bit more time before dealing with his disapproval.

After explaining the situation, his “Have you lost your fucking mind, going against Father like this?” question was immediate. And he was probably right. I did lose my mind.

“I know. But I have a son now. You don’t understand what that means. I have to do what’s right for him. And I can’t lose her either.” I desperately tried to make him understand what I barely understood myself. To make him see past the bullet to the head I might be inviting.

“That was cruel, you know. ”

I winced, realizing how my words must’ve hit him. Fuck. That was a low blow.

“Shit, I didn’t mean—”

“No, you’re right. I don’t know what it’s like to have a child.

Only the aftermath—only the part where you’re left with nothing.

” Nico paused, and the silence stretched for a couple of heartbeats before he took a deep inhale.

No doubt he’d lit a cigarette—a dead giveaway he’d lost his shit over my Russian roulette.

“You’re playing with fire. He’s not gonna understand.”

“I’ll handle it.” The words came out, but we both knew they rang hollow.

Handling it? Sure. Like handling a grenade with the pin pulled out. The old man would see this as treason. But I had made my choice. There was no going back.

Nico sighed. “Just be careful. You’re not just risking your own life anymore.”

I nodded, even though he couldn’t see it.

The truth sank in like a fucking stone, heavier than I’d expected. Nico knew loss all too well, and his concern was real.

As soon as the line went dead, I was moving, pacing without thinking.

My head spun in a thousand different directions, and whatever grip I had left on this mess was slipping fast. In our world, the family’s demands were everything.

Once you became a made man, the family came first, always.

Orders from the boss were absolute. You could be at your mother’s funeral, and if the boss called, you got up and left before the eulogy even finished.

It wasn’t just about loyalty. It was survival.

Being the acting boss meant I still had to follow my father’s orders, and he wasn’t exactly the forgiving type when it came to rebellion.

And I’d just thrown a wrench into the whole fucking system.

The old man was going to flip his shit. How he hadn’t found out yet was a miracle. My father had eyes and ears everywhere, so the fact that he hadn’t already learned about our marriage was either a stroke of luck or a testament to how well I’d kept him in the dark.

With a deep breath, I steeled myself for the inevitable: facing him in prison. This wasn’t just bad—it was about to be a full-blown shitshow.

? ? ?

Each step felt heavier than the last as I navigated the sterile corridors. The buzzing from the lights overhead drilled into my brain, a low, cruel countdown I couldn’t block out. The visitation room wasn’t far now, and every bad choice dragging behind me like a chain.

I pushed the door open, heart pounding, and stared at the rows of tables—cold, empty, set up like a room meant to break you down. The walls were washed out, as if even color had given up on this place.

I sat down, tapping my fingers, counting beats just to keep from unraveling. The sound filled the empty room.

Seconds dragged, stretching out so slow it hurt.

When he showed up, the cold punch of dread knocked every thought clean out of my head. His presence was as imposing as ever, his gaze cutting through the prison’s confines like a blade, laying bare my soul.

Yeah, this is going to be bad. Real bad.

“Luca,” my father greeted, his voice commanding and expectant, a tone that left no room for games.

I took a breath, willing my voice to stay steady. Every word mattered here. This wasn’t just about business. This was life or death. Isabelle’s. Jake’s. And mine.

“Dad, we have to go over something important.”

He didn’t answer, the silence a living thing between us, heavy and sharp. The calm before everything went to hell.

“I’ve married her instead of… taking care of the problem. I found out that I met her in Palermo twelve years ago. I hadn’t realized before that it was her, and… We have a son.”

“Che cazzo? You married her? And you have a son? Are you out of your mind? Do you even grasp what you’ve set off?”

I shifted slightly, jaw tight, hands locked under the table. “Yes.”

“You understand the consequences?”

“I do.” The words came out automatically, but the certainty I tried to convey was hollow. Did I? Fuck, maybe I didn’t.

“The only reason I’m not taking out a contract on you is that you’re my son. But the next time you make me choose between blood and business…”

He didn’t finish. He didn’t need to.

“I know it’s risky. But putting her in a position where she needs to be loyal, where she has to protect our family, can change everything. She has connections and insights that can tip the scales in our favor. With her help, we can take Parker down and cripple the Russians’ influence.”

I tried to convince him as much as myself, but my words were inadequate. No explanation could truly justify going against his order.

“You’ve tied us to a liability. And you did it without consulting me.”

“They’re not a liability. They’re an asset. And Jake… he’s our blood.”

There was a pause, heavy and loaded with everything he wasn’t saying. I could almost hear the wheels turning in his head, breaking everything down into threats and outcomes. I couldn’t tell him the truth—that I married her to keep her alive. He’d see that as weakness. He’d smell blood in the water.

When he finally spoke, his voice was pure ice, like he already knew. “Fine. But know this: if this backfires, it’s on you. You’ll clean up the mess, and you’ll do it alone.”

“I understand.”

“I don’t think you get it at all.” The volume ticked up, anger bleeding into every word. “You made a mistake that’s bigger than you realize. And now, you will face the consequences. If this problem gets out of hand, I won’t let you bring anyone down with you.”

I kept quiet. There was no point in responding; this was as good an outcome as I could have hoped for.

“Good. Now, focus on the task at hand. The problem needs to be dealt with, and I expect results. Handle this, Luca, and don’t fail me.”

“I won’t.”

My words echoed emptily in the heavy silence that followed.

The visit ended with nothing but his glare burning into my back. Walking out of the prison didn’t free me—it tightened the noose.

I slid into the car, slammed the door, and dragged both hands through my hair.

No turning back now. I had to face the outcome, whatever it might be, and pray this was the right move for Isabelle and Jake, because if it wasn’t, the price would be unimaginable.