Kate's POV:

I woke up before the sun had risen, the room cloaked in a cold silence. My heart felt as heavy as my overstuffed suitcase, which sat by the door waiting for me. I glanced at the bed one last time, remembering the moments that had once felt so warm and full of promise. Now, they felt like a dream I had to leave behind.

With every piece of clothing I folded and tucked into my bag, I felt like I was packing away pieces of myself—pieces that belonged to Lucio, to this house, to a life I thought I could have. I zipped the suitcase shut, the sound cutting through the stillness like a knife.

I took a deep breath before stepping into the hallway, dragging my suitcase behind me. Michen was there, leaning casually against the wall as if he'd been waiting.

"So, you're really leaving, huh?" he asked, his voice devoid of the usual teasing tone.

"Yes, I'm leaving," I said, turning to face him.

He nodded, his expression unreadable. "Good luck," he said simply, walking past me without another word. He didn't even say goodbye.

I descended the stairs, each step feeling heavier than the last. The house was eerily quiet; even the usual banter from Lucio's men was absent. I felt like a ghost passing through, unnoticed and unseen.

When I stepped outside, the morning air hit me like a wave. I looked up, and there he was—Lucio. He was standing at the window of his office, looking down at me. His silhouette was dark against the glow of the room, and I could feel his eyes piercing through me, even from that distance.

I wanted him to stop me, to call my name, to tell me he didn't mean what he'd said. But he didn't move. He just stood there, watching, as if he were frozen in place.

Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision. I turned away quickly, not wanting him to see me break. The door to the house opened, and Emily emerged.

"You ready?" she asked, her voice light but her expression serious.

I nodded, unable to find the words. Emily walked toward the car, and I followed her, placing my suitcase in the trunk. As I climbed into the passenger seat, I glanced back at the house one last time. It was a place I had once thought could be my home. Now, it felt like a prison I had to escape.

Emily started the car, and I watched the house grow smaller in the rearview mirror. Lucio was still at the window, a shadow against the light. He didn't move, didn't wave. He just watched as I disappeared from his life.

The silence in the car was deafening at first, but Emily eventually broke it. "So," she said, glancing at me out of the corner of her eye, "you okay?"

I let out a shaky laugh. "Do I look okay?"

She sighed, gripping the steering wheel tighter. "No, you don't. But you're strong, Kate. You'll get through this."

I nodded, not trusting my voice. We stopped at a supermarket along the way to grab snacks, and Emily tried her best to lighten the mood with jokes and small talk. I appreciated the effort, even if it didn't fully reach me.

The drive was long, and at some point, I drifted off to sleep. When Emily shook me awake, we were pulling up to Rose's house. It was beautiful, with a welcoming charm that felt like a warm hug.

We were greeted by two large bodyguards at the entrance. Emily waved them off with a flick of her hand. "The suitcases are in the back," she said. "Get them for us, please."

They nodded and moved toward the car, while Emily and I walked up to the door. She didn't bother knocking or ringing the bell.

"Mom, we're here!" Emily shouted as we stepped inside.

"Coming, sweetheart! Just give me a minute," Rose's voice called from upstairs. Moments later, she appeared, her face lighting up when she saw me.

"Kate, you're here!" she exclaimed, pulling me into a warm hug. "But why so soon? And what's with the suitcases?"

I glanced at Emily, unsure how to begin. She stepped in for me. "Lucio did something really stupid, Mom. Like, beyond stupid."

Rose's face darkened, and she motioned for us to sit in the living room. I chose a single chair, while Emily and Rose sat across from me on a loveseat.

"Tell me everything," Rose said, her voice soft but commanding.

I hesitated before diving into the story, starting with our trip to Italy and ending with the horrifying moment I saw Jacks lying in a pool of blood. I left out the part about my pregnancy, unsure of how to broach it.

When I finished, Rose sighed deeply, her expression a mix of anger and sadness. "Oh, Lucio," she murmured, shaking her head. "He's always been his own worst enemy."

"There's something else," Emily said, nudging me gently. "Go on, Kate. Tell her."

My hands fidgeted in my lap, my heart pounding. "I'm pregnant," I whispered, barely audible. Tears welled up again, and I couldn't stop them from falling.

Rose's eyes widened, and then she pulled me into another hug. "Oh, sweetheart," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "Don't cry, love. This is wonderful news! I'm going to be a grandma!"

She pulled back, her own eyes glistening with tears of joy. "Does he know?"

I shook my head. "No, he doesn't. And I don't think I can tell him. Not with the way things are now."

Rose's expression turned serious. "I understand, Kate. Lucio is a dangerous man, and his life is... complicated. But you know he'll protect you and the baby with everything he has. He loves you, even if he's too stubborn to show it."

"I don't think I can do it," I admitted, my voice trembling. "I don't think I can face him."

"You don't have to tell him now," Rose said gently. "But one day, Kate. One day, he'll need to know."

Emily clapped her hands together, breaking the tension. "Well, I don't know about you guys, but I'm starving. Let's eat. The baby's hungry!"

We all laughed, the heaviness lifting just a little. As we moved to the kitchen to prepare dinner, I felt a small glimmer of hope. Maybe this wasn't the end. Maybe it was just the beginning.

Lucio's POV:

"Sir, she's not at the apartment," one of my men reported nervously, standing stiffly at attention in my office.

I turned sharply to face him, my voice a low growl. "What do you mean she's not at the apartment?"

"Sir," he stammered, beads of sweat forming on his brow, "Emily ma'am didn't take her there. She went... somewhere else."

A surge of anger surged through me. "Get out!" I bellowed, grabbing the nearest glass and hurling it against the wall. The sharp sound of shattering glass echoed through the room, mirroring the chaos in my head.

The man scrambled out, and I stood there, breathing heavily, running my hands through my hair. Why didn't I stop her? Why didn't I tell her the truth? My fists clenched, and a sinking realization settled in—I had pushed her away, and now she was gone.

The door burst open, and Michen stormed in, his face twisted with frustration. "Are you okay? I heard something break," he said, his eyes scanning the mess of glass on the floor.

I waved him off, unwilling to let him see how badly I was unraveling. "Yeah, I'm fine. I just—" My voice trailed off, the words sticking in my throat. How could I explain this when I didn't even understand it myself?

Michen crossed his arms, his expression hardening. "You just what, huh? Lucio, this is your fault. She left because of you. She was the only one healing you, and you pushed her away like an idiot."

"Don't start with me, Michen," I snapped, my tone warning.

"Why shouldn't I?!" he shot back, stepping closer. "You had someone who made you better, who cared about you, and you let her slip through your fingers. What the hell is wrong with you?"

His words hit like a punch to the gut. Before I could respond, he turned on his heel and slammed the door behind him. I stared at the empty space where he had stood, my jaw tightening. He was right. Every word was right.

Needing a distraction, I headed downstairs. The guys were in the living room, sprawled out on the couches, but the usual laughter and banter were missing. It was unsettlingly quiet.

Steven looked up as I entered, his expression lightening briefly. "Hey, where's Kate? We should do something—cook, watch a movie. The house feels weird without her."

The other guys exchanged awkward glances, avoiding his gaze. The tension in the room was palpable.

Steven's smile faltered. "Guys? Where's Kate?"

Michen, who was leaning against the wall with a drink in his hand, glared at me. "She's gone, Steven. And it's all his fault." He jabbed a finger in my direction.

Steven's face fell, confusion and anger flashing across his features. "Gone? What do you mean gone? What the hell did you do, Lucio?"

I clenched my fists, the weight of their stares suffocating me. "It's not that simple," I started, but Steven cut me off.

"Not that simple?!" he yelled, standing up. "You're the damn reason she's gone! She was the glue holding this place together, and you let her walk out!"

"Steven, you don't understand—" I began, my voice hardening.

"Understand what? That you're a coward? That you couldn't admit you needed her?" Steven spat, his voice shaking with rage. "You don't deserve her, Lucio. You don't deserve anyone."

He turned and stormed out, slamming the door behind him. The room fell into a heavy silence. Jordan, sitting on the armrest of the couch, shook his head, his eyes glassy.

"You promised us, Lucio," Jordan said, his voice trembling. "You said you wouldn't hurt her. She was like our little sister. We trusted you, and you broke her."

"Jordan—" I tried, but he stood abruptly, tears streaking his face.

"Don't," he said sharply, his voice breaking. "Just don't." He left without another word, and the weight in my chest grew heavier.

Michen stood in the corner, swirling his drink. He looked up at me, his anger simmering just beneath the surface. "You're a piece of work, you know that?"

"Don't start with me, Michen," I warned, my tone sharp.

"Or what? You'll throw another glass? Punch me?" he shot back, taking a long swig of his drink. "You can't fix this by being angry, Lucio. You need to fix yourself."

I strode toward him, my anger bubbling over. "You think I don't know that? You think I don't know what I've done?"

Before I could say more, Steven returned, grabbing the drink from Michen's hand. "You've had enough," he said firmly.

Michen shoved him back. "Don't touch me, Steven."

"Then stop acting like a damn idiot," Steven snapped, stepping closer.

"Make me," Michen challenged, squaring his shoulders.

"Enough!" I roared, stepping between them. "This isn't helping!"

They both glared at me but backed down reluctantly. The tension in the room was suffocating, the silence deafening as everyone seemed to retreat into their thoughts.

I ran a hand over my face, exhaustion hitting me like a freight train. "I'll find her," I said quietly, the words more for myself than for them. "I'll make this right."

Michen scoffed, his voice laced with sarcasm. "You'd better, Lucio. Because if you don't, you're going to lose more than just her."

His words hung in the air long after he left the room, the weight of their truth pressing down on me.

The house was oppressively silent after the storm of emotions had passed. I sat alone in the dim light of the living room, staring blankly at the whiskey glass in my hand. My grip tightened until the glass creaked under the pressure, threatening to shatter. I placed it down with a controlled force and leaned back into the chair, closing my eyes.

The image of Kate's tearful face haunted me, etched into the darkness behind my eyelids. Every word she said echoed louder than any gunshot I'd ever heard.

"I'm leaving tomorrow. I won't be your 'good fuck' anymore."

It wasn't just her anger—it was the pain in her voice that gutted me. The raw, unfiltered emotion I caused. I failed her. Again.

The door creaked open, and I snapped my eyes open. Michen walked in, calmer now, but still carrying an air of simmering frustration.

"Lucio," he said, his voice steadier than before. "What's the plan?"

I glared at him, the weight of his question pressing on my chest. "The plan? The plan is to fix this mess, Michen. But you know damn well that fixing it isn't as simple as walking up to her and saying sorry."

Michen scoffed, dropping heavily onto the couch across from me. "It should be that simple. You're the one complicating it, Lucio."

I shot him a glare. "You think this is easy for me? You think I don't know what I've done?"

"Then act like it!" Michen slammed his hand on the arm of the couch, leaning forward. "Stop brooding and actually do something. She's not going to wait around forever for you to pull your head out of your ass."

Before I could respond, Jordan walked in, his face pale but his resolve strong. "Enough, both of you," he said sharply. "We need to focus on what's important—finding Kate. If we're too busy tearing each other apart, she'll disappear for good."

Michen and I exchanged tense glances, but his words hit home. I nodded, standing up and pacing the room. "She left with Emily, which means she's either at Rose's house or somewhere else safe. Emily wouldn't let anything happen to her."

Steven entered the room then, carrying a fresh drink. "You're assuming a lot, Lucio. Emily's loyal to Kate now, not you. If she thinks Kate's better off without you, she'll make sure you never find her."

The thought sent a chill down my spine. Emily was ruthless when it came to protecting people she cared about. If she believed I was a threat to Kate's happiness, she'd keep Kate hidden for years if necessary.

"I don't care," I said, my voice low and steady. "I'll find her. She can hate me, she can scream at me, but I'll make her see that I'm not giving up on her. Not now. Not ever."

Steven raised his glass sarcastically. "Well, here's to hoping your grand declaration doesn't blow up in your face."

Michen snatched the drink out of Steven's hand, tossing it into the trash can with a sharp clang. "Enough with the jokes, Steven. This isn't funny."

Steven turned on him, his expression darkening. "I wasn't trying to be funny, Michen. I'm just being realistic. You think Lucio can just snap his fingers and fix this? It's not going to be that simple."

"Then maybe don't pour another drink and sit on your ass while we figure it out," Michen snapped back, stepping closer.

Steven stood, his fists clenched. "And maybe don't act like you're the only one who cares about her, Michen."

"Guys," Jordan interjected, his voice rising in frustration. "This isn't helping. We need to focus."

But Michen and Steven were already chest to chest, their voices escalating.

"She left because of him," Michen said, his voice trembling with restrained anger. "And you're just standing here pretending like we shouldn't hold him accountable!"

"And you're acting like we can undo it by yelling at each other," Steven shot back, his tone sharp. "Grow up, Michen."

"Both of you, shut up!" I roared, my voice echoing through the room. They froze, turning their attention to me. My chest heaved with the weight of my emotions, my fists clenched so tightly I could feel my nails digging into my palms. "I don't need you two tearing into each other when the person who matters most is out there thinking I don't care about her. This ends now. You hear me?"

The room fell into silence, the tension thick but the anger dissipating. Michen sighed, running a hand through his hair, while Steven crossed his arms, his gaze dropping to the floor.

"I'll start making calls," Jordan offered quietly, breaking the silence. "Rose will know something."

I nodded, my voice softening. "Thank you."

As the room cleared, I sat back down, burying my head in my hands. The guilt weighed heavily on me, but beneath it, a spark of determination burned brighter. I had made mistakes—many—but I wasn't going to let them define me. Not this time.