The early morning light filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the penthouse, casting long shadows on the polished marble floors. Bianca stood at the window, gazing out over the city below. It had been a long night, filled with decisions she never thought she'd have to make. Yet, here she was, standing at the precipice of her future, uncertain of the path she would take. Her heart beat in her chest, but the overwhelming pressure that had once clouded her mind was now a quiet hum, a distant echo. She had made her choices. The question now was whether she could live with them. Footsteps echoed from behind her, and without turning around, Bianca knew who it was. His presence was unmistakable—confident, calm, and ever so controlling. Lorenzo. She didn't need to see him to know that he was standing there, watching her, as always. "You're leaving," he said quietly, his voice low, but it carried the weight of a question that didn't need an answer. It was an accusation, a statement wrapped in a question, as if he already knew but needed her to say the words. Bianca didn't respond immediately. Instead, she simply turned, her gaze meeting his. There was a flicker of something in his eyes, something raw and unguarded, but it was fleeting. She had seen it before, and she knew it for what it was—vulnerability. But that was a luxury she couldn't afford. Not anymore. "Yes," she said, her voice steady. "I have to. It's the only way." Lorenzo's jaw tightened, and for a moment, he said nothing. His eyes flickered to the door, the weight of the decision hanging between them like a physical presence. Then, without warning, he stepped toward her, closing the distance in a few short strides. His hand reached out, and his fingers grazed the back of her neck, his touch as familiar as it was electrifying. "You don't have to do this," he said softly, his voice thick with unspoken emotion. "You don't have to leave everything behind." Bianca felt the warmth of his touch sear into her skin, but her resolve didn't waver. She had fought for this moment, clawed her way to the top, and now, she was going to take it. But she knew—deep down—that the price of victory was something she wasn't sure she could pay. "I do," she whispered. "I've already made my decision." His hand fell away from her neck, and she saw the pain flash in his eyes before he masked it, his face becoming the same implacable mask she had grown so accustomed to. He wasn't the kind of man to show weakness, and he certainly wasn't the kind of man to beg. But she saw it—the way his lips tightened, the slight furrow of his brow, the tension in his shoulders. For a brief moment, Bianca allowed herself to feel the weight of what she was leaving behind. Lorenzo, Salvatore, the life she had built in the shadows of the underworld—everything. She had learned how to survive, how to manipulate, how to control. But now, it seemed the only way forward was to break free from the chains that bound her. "You're making a mistake," Lorenzo said, his voice low but firm. "You don't have to go." Bianca took a deep breath, steeling herself. She could feel the sting of regret forming at the edges of her heart, but she pushed it away. This was the only way. She had to be strong, even if it meant sacrificing the one person who had ever made her feel like she wasn't alone in this world. "I'm not making a mistake," she replied, her voice unwavering. "This is what I need to do." Lorenzo's gaze softened, his fingers reaching for her face. His thumb brushed against her cheek, a touch that was tender, intimate, and filled with unspoken affection. It almost felt like a farewell. "I'll never stop caring for you, Bianca," he said, his voice low, barely above a whisper. "I hope you remember that." Her heart ached at the words, but she didn't allow herself to falter. She couldn't. The decisions she had made in the past had led her here, and the only way out was to keep moving forward, no matter the cost. "I won't forget," she replied quietly, her voice filled with finality. Lorenzo stepped back, his eyes never leaving hers. There was a moment of silent understanding between them, one that neither of them needed to verbalize. They both knew what this meant. The end of something they had shared, the end of something that had never truly been. "Goodbye, Bianca," Lorenzo said softly, his voice tinged with regret. She watched him walk away, the door clicking shut behind him with a finality that sent a shiver down her spine. She didn't know if she had made the right choice. But she knew one thing for certain—there was no turning back. As the door closed, the silence in the room was deafening. Bianca closed her eyes, letting the weight of the decision settle around her. She had played the game, and now, she was stepping out of it. But the world she was leaving behind wouldn't let her go so easily. Her phone buzzed in her pocket, interrupting the stillness. With a sigh, she pulled it out, her heart skipping a beat as she saw the name on the screen: Salvatore. She hesitated for a moment, then answered the call. "Bianca," his voice came through, smooth and calculated. "I thought I'd find you here." "I'm done, Salvatore," she said, her voice steady. "I'm leaving." There was a pause on the other end of the line, and then a low chuckle. "You think it's that simple?" Bianca's jaw tightened. "It has to be." "Maybe," Salvatore replied. "But you're still mine. Whether you like it or not." The words sent a cold shiver down her spine. She had known the cost of her decisions. But hearing it from him, hearing that icy finality in his tone, made it all feel real. There was no escaping the grip of the world she had chosen. "I don't belong to you," Bianca said, her voice firm. "I belong to no one." A laugh echoed on the other end, dark and hollow. "We'll see about that." The call ended, and Bianca stood there, staring at the phone in her hand. The finality of Salvatore's words echoed in her mind. She had hoped, even for a moment, that she could walk away from this life unscathed. But she knew better. No one truly left this world without paying a price. As she walked toward the door, her mind raced with the possibilities. She had made the decision to break free, but she couldn't ignore the fact that Salvatore and Lorenzo would always be a part of her past. They were the ghosts that would follow her, the shadows that would never truly leave her. The elevator ride down to the lobby felt like an eternity. The city stretched out before her, a sprawling maze of lights and noise. It had never felt so distant. Bianca had always thrived in the chaos, in the power and the seduction of the world she had inhabited. But now, the silence was deafening. She stepped out of the elevator and into the cool night air. The world around her was alive with the hum of the city, but for the first time, she felt truly alone. It wasn't the end she had imagined. It wasn't the triumph she had hoped for. But it was her new beginning.
Turbulence & Temptation book 2 is coming soon.