Chapter 12 - Luca's Warning
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Gregory froze, his fingers still wrapped tightly around Nora’s forearm. Slowly, terrifyingly, the heavy weight of a massive hand clamped down onto Gregory’s shoulder. The grip was so incredibly powerful that Gregory felt his collarbone groan under the pressure.
“I told your mistress to remove her hands from my wife,” Luca Castellano whispered, his voice a low, lethal hum that carried only to the three of them. “Do I need to break your arm to teach you the same lesson?”
Gregory released Nora instantly, stumbling backward as Luca stepped firmly between them.
The two bodyguards had closed in, effectively shielding the altercation from the rest of the ballroom, turning the small space by the bar into an isolated kill zone.
“Mr. Castellano,” Gregory stammered, raising his hands in a pathetic gesture of surrender. “I… I was just speaking with my ex-wife. We had a misunderstanding regarding some property.”
Luca didn't yell. He didn't draw a weapon. The sheer, overwhelming dominance of his posture was infinitely more terrifying. He reached out, casually adjusting the lapel of Gregory’s expensive tuxedo.
“You are breathing right now because my wife requested that I do not kill you in front of the Mayor,” Luca said softly, smoothing the fabric. “But understand this, Gregory. You no longer have an ex-wife. You have a ghost. If you speak to her again, if you look at her again, if you even think her name, I will have my men peel the skin from your body while you are still awake.”
Gregory swallowed hard, his entire body trembling violently. He was a corporate thief who played with spreadsheets; he was entirely outmatched by a man who ruled through blood and fear.
“I… I understand,” Gregory choked out.
“As for your property,” Luca smiled, a dark, chilling expression. “My cyber team has completely decrypted the Meridian Capital ledgers. We know about the fourteen million you stole from Viktor Volkov.”
“Please,” Gregory begged, tears of genuine terror welling in his eyes. “Please don't tell the Russians. I’ll give you the money. I’ll transfer it to your accounts tonight. Just don't tell them.”
“I don't need your stolen money,” Luca scoffed, stepping back and offering his arm to Nora.
Nora slipped her arm through his, looking back at her ex-husband with absolute, profound pity.
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“We aren't going to tell the Russians, Gregory,” Nora said quietly. “We already sent the decrypted flash drive to Viktor Volkov’s private residence by courier an hour ago. Enjoy the rest of the gala.”
Gregory collapsed against the bar, his chest heaving, realizing his life was officially over.
