Chapter 6 - The Enemy Inside The House
For three days, I tried to convince myself that my life had not changed.
I went to work.
I answered emails.
I organized events.
I smiled at guests.
But nothing felt normal anymore.
Because every time I looked through the glass doors of Hôtel Verrine, I wondered if another black car was waiting outside.
Every time my phone vibrated, I wondered if someone had found me.
And every time I remembered Luca Moretti standing in front of me, protecting me without hesitation...
I wondered why a man everyone feared made me feel safer than anyone else.
That question bothered me.
So I decided to ask him.
I found Luca in the hotel's private lounge that evening.
Not because he owned the place.
Not because his security team was already waiting nearby.
Because he had asked to see me.
The room was quiet.
Expensive furniture.
Dark wood.
A view of the city lights.
Luca stood near the window, holding a glass of water.
Not whiskey.
Not wine.
Water.
That surprised me.
"You came."
I closed the door behind me.
"You sound surprised."
"I am."
"Why?"
"Most people avoid me."
I looked at him.
"Maybe most people don't know you."
His expression changed slightly.
"You think you do?"
"No."
I walked closer.
"But I think there's more to you than what people say."
Luca looked away.
"That's a dangerous belief."
"Why?"
"Because people who see the good in me usually get hurt."
I didn't like hearing that.
"Do you believe you're a bad person?"
The question caught him off guard.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then:
"I believe I've done bad things."
"That's not the same answer."
"No."
He looked at me.
"But sometimes the difference doesn't matter."
I studied his face.
The confidence.
The control.
The scars he tried to hide.
"You really believe you deserve to be alone."
His eyes narrowed.
"Careful."
"Why?"
"Because you're starting to understand me."
I smiled slightly.
"That scares you?"
"Yes."
The honesty shocked me.
Luca Moretti admitted fear.
Not of enemies.
Not of losing power.
Of being understood.
Before I could respond, the door opened.
A man entered.
Late forties.
Expensive suit.
Cold eyes.
"Brother."
Luca immediately became distant.
The warmth disappeared.
I noticed.
This man had that effect on him.
"Luca."
The man looked at me.
"And who is this?"
Nobody introduced him.
But I knew.
Family.
The resemblance was there.
Same confidence.
Same dangerous calm.
"Lorenzo," Luca said.
His voice carried warning.
Lorenzo smiled.
"So this is the woman everyone is talking about."
My stomach tightened.
"Everyone?"
Luca stepped slightly closer.
"Leave."
Lorenzo laughed softly.
"Still protecting strangers?"
"I'm not asking."
The room became colder.
Lorenzo looked between us.
"You always had a weakness for people who don't belong in our world."
"I said leave."
Lorenzo walked toward the door.
But before leaving, he stopped.
"You should tell her the truth."
Luca's expression hardened.
"What truth?"
Lorenzo looked at me.
"The reason those men were hunting him."
Then he left.
I turned toward Luca.
"What truth?"
He didn't answer.
"Luca."
Silence.
Then he said:
"My father had another son."
I froze.
"What?"
"My half-brother."
"Lorenzo?"
He nodded.
"He believes I stole everything from him."
"The company?"
"The family."
I frowned.
"But why?"
Luca looked exhausted.
"Because when my father died, he left control to me."
"And Lorenzo?"
"He got nothing."
"Why?"
"Because my father knew what he was."
I didn't ask what that meant.
I could see the answer in Luca's eyes.
"Lorenzo is behind this?"
"I don't know."
"But you suspect him."
"Yes."
"And you're still letting him walk around?"
Luca looked at me.
"Family is complicated."
I shook my head.
"No."
"What?"
"Family is not complicated."
I stepped closer.
"People make it complicated."
For a moment, Luca simply stared at me.
Like nobody had ever spoken to him that way.
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
His expression changed instantly.
"What happened?"
A pause.
Then:
"Are you sure?"
His eyes moved to me.
And I knew.
Something was wrong.
He lowered the phone.
"The person who leaked your information..."
I waited.
"Was someone inside my organization."
I swallowed.
"Someone close to you?"
"Yes."
"Who?"
Luca didn't answer.
Because he already knew.
And the fear in his eyes told me one thing.
The enemy was not outside.
May you like
It was already inside.
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