Page 9

A few days later

Diamond woke up to the rhythmic clang of weights being adjusted.

That wasn’t normal.

She rolled out of bed, her muscles still a little bit sore but her instincts sharper than ever. Something was off.

Following the sound, she padded toward the source, only to stop dead in her tracks.

Her jaw nearly hit the floor.

A fully equipped gym.

In Luca’s house.

Treadmills. Punching bags. A weightlifting station. Even a damn wrestling mat.

She turned slowly, Luca was leaning against the doorway, arms crossed, looking way too smug.

"Luca." Her voice was flat. "What the hell is this?"

"Your training space," he said easily. Like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Diamond’s eyes narrowed. "I didn’t ask for this."

He shrugged. "Didn’t need you to."

Oh, she wanted to fight him. Argue. Yell.

But the truth?

Her chest felt… tight.

Because no one—no one—had ever done something like this for her.

Still, she had an image to maintain.

"So you’re just—what? Watching me train from now on?"

Luca smirked, stepping closer, gaze dipping to her arms. "I enjoy watching you move, Bambina."

Her stomach flipped.

Nope. Nope. Not engaging.

She turned away, grabbed a pair of gloves, and punched the nearest bag.

"Keep up then, Ferrara."

Soon, Diamond wasn’t the only one using the gym.

Luca had made calls—just two. First to Vincent, who showed up with Lena the next day, and the second to her landlord, terminating the rental agreement and moving all her stuff to his apartment.

Diamond was annoyed. But Luca was not listening to her anymore. He was not letting her go at any cost.

So she had no option but to live and train under his roof. She was used to training at the gym, pushing through every rep and every round with everyone busy in their own sessions. But now? Now she had Vincent barking orders at her and only her, while Lena made smug comments from the sidelines.

“Again,” Vincent ordered, arms folded as he watched Diamond reset her stance.

She gritted her teeth, sweat dripping down her back. Every muscle in her body ached, but she refused to quit.

Lena, lounging nearby with a water bottle in hand, smirked. “If you puke, I’ll hold your hair back. That’s friendship, right?”

Diamond shot her a glare. “That’s sadism.”

Lena took a slow sip. “Potato, po-tah-to.”

Diamond exhaled sharply but said nothing.

And then there was Luca. Ever the silent observer, he leaned against the wall, arms crossed, acting like he wasn’t paying attention. Like he wasn’t memorizing every move she made.

But she could feel his eyes on her.

He had been the one to call them—Lena for support, Vincent for discipline. He wasn’t about to let Diamond go into her first fight anything less than prepared.

“Your footwork is still sloppy,” Vincent muttered, stepping closer. “You rely too much on brute strength. You need to be quicker.”

Diamond wiped her forehead. “I am quick.”

Vincent snorted. “Not quick enough.”

Luca finally spoke, his voice calm but firm. “Fix it.”

Diamond scowled. “You fix it.”

Luca smirked. “I did. That’s why I called them.”

She hated that he was right.

She stomped on the treadmill, ignoring all the three people around her.

Soon her pace increased and she started to run on it, pushing herself as hard as she could. Luca had only meant to check on her for a while, but he couldn’t move. She was completely in the zone, headphones on, oblivious to his gaze. There was something intoxicating about the way she pushed past her limits, refusing to stop even when her body screamed for rest. And it did something to him—something deep, something raw.

His eyes roamed on every curve of her delicious figure. Tiny droplets of sweat formed on her body, the way she pushed herself hard on that treadmill; fierce, fearless, and untameable. She was his missing piece, the one he never knew he needed.

This wasn’t just attraction. It was a need. She wasn’t just some woman; she was his woman.

“Stop drooling over me Luca.” Diamond's voice cut through his cloud of lust.

He chuckled, not at all embarrassed, “I'll tell you at night what drooling really means when it comes to you.”

His words made her cheeks turn pink and her heart racing.

Realising he might be distracting her from training, he excused himself, informing her that Enzo was about to join him in ten minutes.

Diamond walked out of the home gym, towel slung around her neck, skin still dewy from the workout. She stretched her arms over her head, rolling out the last bit of tension in her shoulders. Vincent and Lena had left half an hour ago and she had just finished her stretching.

Luca and Enzo’s voices filtered through the living room, some men were standing by their side, their voices low and firm. Diamond made her way to the bedroom passing by them when the front door opened.

A man stepped inside, his presence immediately filling the space with a casual arrogance. He was tall, built like a fighter, and carried himself with the ease of someone who knew he belonged. His sharp gaze flicked over Diamond, a smirk tugging at his lips.

"Didn’t take you for the arm-candy type, Boss." He said walking towards her.

“Marco…” Fabio, who had been lingering nearby, shifted like he was about to warn the guy, but Luca—sitting on the couch—lifted a hand, a teasing glint in his eyes. “Let him figure it out.”

The moment Marco’s hand reached her, she moved.

One second, Marco was standing there, smug as ever. The next—he was flat on his back, breath knocked clean out of him, staring up at the ceiling in stunned silence.

Enzo’s laugh cut through the air, sharp and amused. “Damn, Luca. I think I like her.”

Luca remained lounging, a slow smirk curling his lips, but there was pride in his eyes. “Told you—she’s lethal.”

Marco groaned, sitting up and rubbing his ribs. “The hell was that?”

Diamond rolled her shoulders, unimpressed. “You were asking for it.”

Enzo stepped closer, still grinning. “You ever get tired of wrestling, Perez, come find me. I could use someone with your… skill set.”

Diamond scoffed. “I fight for myself, not for men in suits.”

Enzo tipped his head at her, considering. “You ever change your mind… you know where to find me.”

Then, with a more thoughtful look, he added, “Or maybe, you’d prefer something else. Our young boys need to learn how to fight properly. You could teach them.”

Diamond quirked a brow. “You want me training mafia brats?”

Enzo shrugged. “They could use discipline. You’d be good at it.”

She let out a dry laugh. “Not my thing.”

Enzo looked at Luca, “You won't say anything?”

Luca shrugged, “It's her choice, I won't ever take decisions for her when it comes to wrestling.”

Diamond's heart fluttered.

Enzo sighed, feigning disappointment, before his gaze flicked over her, slow and assessing. “Pity. I like my women a little more… obedient.”

Luca’s smirk dropped. His fingers curled slightly against the armrest, but his tone was deceptively smooth. “Then she’s definitely not for you.”

Diamond smirked, unfazed. “Sounds like a you problem, Enzo.”

Enzo chuckled and stepped back. “Your loss, Perez.”

Once Enzo and the men were gone, Luca stood, closing the distance between them. His voice dropped lower, thick with something possessive. “You do that again, and I might just have to keep you locked up, Bambina.”

Diamond grinned, tilting her chin up at him. “Jealous, huh?”

Luca held her wrist and pulled her towards him, making her gasp. He kissed her slow and smooth, enjoying the salty taste of her sweaty lips, pulling away as he looked at her, eyes dark with promise, “Oh Bambina, you have no idea.”

THE FIRST MATCH

Finally it was the day before her first match and Diamond was stressed.

She paced. Couldn’t sit still.

Every bruise, every fall, every loss flashed in her mind.

What if she wasn’t ready?

What if she lost?

She didn’t even hear Luca enter until his voice cut through the silence.

"You’re scared."

She scoffed. "No, I’m not."

But he wasn’t buying it.

"I know that look, Diamond."

She hated how easily he saw through her.

She hesitated, then, voice barely above a whisper, admitted,

"What if I lose?"

Luca stepped closer, tilting her chin up, forcing her to meet his gaze.

"Then you fight again."

His thumb brushed her jaw, voice low and steady.

"But you’re not losing."

She swallowed, uncertainty flickering in her eyes. He saw it, the doubt she tried to hide, the weight of expectations pressing down on her shoulders. Luca leaned in, his voice dropping even lower.

"Come back to me, okay?"

There was power in his words, but beneath it, a hint of something raw. Something dangerously close to desperation.

Diamond raised an eyebrow, forgetting her current turmoil, a slow smirk played at her lips. A challenge danced in the swirls of her bright green eyes.

"And if I don’t?"

Luca didn’t hesitate. His grip on her chin tightened just enough to make her breath hitch.

"Then I’ll take you hard, right on that blue mat, in front of all those people."

Her pupils dilated. Heat flickered between them, thick and undeniable. But Luca didn’t move, didn’t waver.

"So don’t make me do that, Bambina."

The First Match

The stadium was buzzing with energy. Diamond tightened the straps of her gloves, forcing her breath to steady.

She wasn’t expecting them.

Lena and Vincent, sure.

But Luca’s entire family?

His mother was seated next to his father, watching with an expression that was far too soft for someone who just met her once. His sister was practically bouncing in excitement, already waving. Even Enzo gave her a nod of approval—something she did not know how to process.

"They didn’t have to come."

Luca had smirked at her when she stepped into the arena.

"They wanted to come, just get used to this Bambina. Now go and win for us.”

Her eyes glistened with unexplained emotions. She never thought of having someone supporting her in the audience. And here, there was more than one person, his whole family was here, to support her.

And this was just because of one person; Luca Ferrara.

The person she pushed but he stood still.

The person she put up her walls for but he barged in with full force.

The person who didn't give up on her even when she was on the verge of giving up herself.

Was she deserving of this?

“Don't overthink Bambina. Go and win.” Luca's voice brought her back from her thoughts. He gave her a hug, pecked on her forehead and went to stand in the audience.

Diamond rolled her shoulders. Focus.

Soon she was face to face with her opponent—Brianna Carter.

Experienced. Unbeaten.

The bell rang.

Round One

Brianna moved fast.

Diamond barely had time to react before she was forced to the edge of the mat.

Her opponent grabbed her waist, attempting a takedown.

Diamond braced, twisting her hips, using her flexibility to avoid getting slammed down.

Instead, she flipped them both, landing hard on top.

The crowd roared.

"Stay on her!" Vincent’s voice was sharp.

She tried.

But Brianna recovered too quickly, breaking free and shoving Diamond backward.

The round ended before either could gain real control.

Round Two

The second round was brutal.

Brianna came at her with relentless aggression, grabbing her leg and slamming her to the mat.

Pain exploded in Diamond’s ribs.

She barely had time to breathe before she was flipped again, held down.

The ref counted.

She fought—hard.

Five seconds.

She forced a break, barely escaping the pin.

She rolled to her feet, panting.

The round ended.

Brianna had more points.

Diamond was losing.

Round Three

She forced herself to breathe.

Luca’s voice cut through the noise.

"You're not losing, Diamond."

Something ignited in her chest.

The final round started, and she moved differently.

More aggressive. More precise.

Brianna lunged. Diamond saw it coming.

She ducked, twisted, and countered.

Her arm locked around Brianna’s waist.

One powerful lift. One perfect slam.

Brianna hit the mat.

Loud.

Diamond pinned her, body locked tight.

Five seconds.

The whistle blew.

The match was over.

She won!!!

For a second, everything blurred.

Then—the noise hit her.

Lena was screaming. Vincent gave his rare approving nod.

And Luca’s family? Cheering.

But her eyes only searched for one person.

Luca.

He stood at the edge of the mat, a slow clap breaking through the chaos.

Pride burned in his eyes.

She swallowed hard. This felt different.

She wasn’t used to winning and having people proud of her.

***

The roar of the crowd still echoed in her ears as Diamond stepped out of the arena, each step feeling heavier than the last. The adrenaline was fading, leaving behind exhaustion and the dull ache of bruises she knew would bloom by morning. But none of it mattered.

Because she won.

The realization hit her like a slow wave, settling deep in her chest. She had fought, bled, and earned this victory. For the first time in forever, she felt light—like the weight of years of doubt and struggle had finally lifted.

She barely made it into the hallway before she saw him.

Luca.

He was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, waiting. His usual smirk was there, but something in his eyes gave him away—something deeper, something that sent a different kind of warmth curling through her chest.

Before she could speak, he pushed off the wall and closed the distance between them in three steady strides. Then, without a word, he cupped the back of her neck and brought his forehead to hers, his touch firm, grounding her.

"You did it, Bambina." His voice was rough, thick with something she couldn’t quite name. "I knew you would."

Her breath hitched. She hated how easy it was to lean into him, to let her body sag just a little, just enough for him to feel the exhaustion she refused to admit.

"You sound surprised," she muttered, forcing a smirk.

Luca huffed a quiet laugh, but his fingers tightened slightly against her skin. "Never."

Then, as if remembering something, he pulled back and reached into his pocket.

"I got you something."

She frowned, watching as he pulled out a small velvet box.

"A trophy wasn’t enough?" she teased, though her voice was softer than usual.

Luca didn’t rise to the bait. Instead, he simply held the box out. "Open it."

Her fingers were unsteady as she flipped the lid.

Inside, nestled against black velvet, was a delicate diamond nose pin.

She stared at it, her throat suddenly tight.

"A Diamond for every win," Luca murmured, voice softer now. "That’s the deal."

For a second, she just stood there, the weight of the moment pressing into her. He had thought about this. Planned it.

Her chest ached.

"You’re ridiculous," she muttered, shaking her head.

Luca stepped closer, so close she could feel the warmth of his breath against her skin. His fingers traced her jaw, tilting her chin up until her eyes met his.

"Yeah?" His voice dropped lower, rougher. "And you’re mine."

The air between them thickened.

She should say something. Push him away. Tell him he was wrong.

But she didn’t.

Not this time.

Because she knew her heart had lost the battle, she was, in fact, his.

And so she let him take the lead as he planted his lips on her, soft but demanding.