Luca thought Vanessa’s secret involved stolen documents, until security identified the mysterious man in the fourth photograph as his own best man—and found his wedding date written on the document.

The gunshot echoed across the rooftops like a thunderclap.

I didn't feel the bullet.

Because before the lead could cross the space between us, Luca moved with superhuman speed.

He didn't dive for cover. He threw his entire body across the line of fire, slamming into Julian with the force of a freight train.

The bullet tore harmlessly through the wet fabric of Luca’s left shoulder, ricocheting off the concrete parapet behind him.

The impact of Luca’s tackle drove Julian hard against the gravel rooftop. The gun flew from Julian’s grip, skittering across the slick surface and tumbling forty stories into the dark void below.

Julian fought like a rabid animal, clawing at Luca’s face, screaming curses into the howling rain. "Die! Just die, you arrogant bastard!"

Luca didn't shout. He didn't lose control.

With cold, terrifying precision, Luca pinned Julian’s arms beneath his knees, his massive right hand wrapping securely around Julian’s throat, cutting off his airway until Julian’s eyes bulged with terror.

"You threatened her," Luca whispered, his voice vibrating with lethal intensity inches from Julian’s face. "You pointed a gun at Claire Dawson."

Julian choked, his fingernails scraping uselessly against Luca’s forearms. He saw the void in Luca’s eyes—the realization that Luca could snap his neck in half a second, and no jury in Illinois would convict him.

"Luca, stop!"

My voice broke through the roar of the wind.

I ran across the slick gravel, falling to my knees in the rain beside him. I laid my uninjured hand against Luca’s soaked cheek, feeling the violent tension humming through his muscles.

"Don't kill him, Luca," I begged, rain streaming down my face. "He isn't worth your soul. Let the law take him. You're better than this."

Luca froze.

His dark eyes, wild with adrenaline and protective fury, slowly shifted from Julian’s purple face to look at me. He saw the fear in my eyes—not of Julian, but of losing the man Luca truly was.

Slowly, deliberately, Luca released his grip.

Federal marshals swarmed forward, dragging Julian onto his stomach, driving his face into the wet gravel, and snapping heavy steel handcuffs around his wrists.

"Julian Pierce," the lead marshal shouted over the rain, reading the federal charges into his ear. "You are under arrest for conspiracy to commit capital murder, wire fraud, grand larceny, and attempted murder."

Julian spat blood onto the roof, glaring up at us with venomous, defeated hatred as they hauled him to his feet. "You think you won, Luca? You think this maid is going to stay with you? She’s after your money, just like Vanessa!"

Luca stood up, completely ignoring the bleeding graze on his left shoulder. He stepped in front of me, shielding me completely from Julian’s gaze.

"Claire risked her life when she had nothing," Luca said, his voice ringing with absolute, unshakeable conviction. "You sold your soul when you had everything. Take this garbage out of my sight."

The marshals dragged Julian toward the rooftop stairs, his hysterical screams fading into the stairwell.

Down below in the service courtyard, another squad car was waiting.

Marcus stepped forward with his tablet. "Vanessa Bellini was just taken into federal custody at the estate, sir. When she heard Julian was caught, she turned on him instantly. She’s already signing a full confession in exchange for taking the death penalty off the table."

Luca nodded once, dismissing Marcus with a wave of his hand.

The rooftop cleared. The agents retreated down the stairs, leaving the two of us alone under the whispering summer rain.

I looked at Luca’s shoulder. Blood was seeping through his torn white shirt. "Luca, you’re shot! You need Dr. Harris—"

Before I could finish the sentence, Luca reached out, caught my waist with his uninjured arm, and pulled me flush against his chest.

His mouth found mine.

The kiss was fierce, desperate, and filled with a raw, consuming passion that took every ounce of breath from my lungs. The rain poured over us, washing away the blood, the terror, the lies, and the three days of living in a nightmare.

I wrapped my good arm around his neck, sinking into his strength, kissing him back with all the love and gratitude that had lived silently in my heart for years.

When he finally pulled away, his forehead rested against mine, his chest heaving, his dark eyes shining with an emotion so deep it made my knees weak.