12. Luca
CHAPTER 12
LUCA
MONDAY AFTERNOON – THE BAIL HEARING
B oredom was gnawing at me. With nothing to do but think, I leaned my head back against the cold wall of the holding cell, fighting the pull of exhaustion. Every time I closed my eyes, Julie’s lifeless body flashed before me—her bruised skin, the way she’d been discarded like trash. The rage hit me in waves, tightening my chest. My fists clenched as I fought the urge to scream. It was impossible to think of her final moments without wanting to tear apart the bastard responsible.
But I needed to push that anger down. I had to focus.
My mind went back to the moment I found her. There had to be something I’d missed. The police were building a case, and I needed something solid to fight back. The scene played over and over in my mind. Her clothes had been stripped, her body laid out, no blood on the floor. But I’d slipped—on what? It wasn’t blood. Whatever it was could be important, and yet, it slipped away from me like smoke. Why couldn’t I remember?
Julie’s murder reeked of the MP’s revenge. It had to be him. The timing was too perfect. But who had he sent to do his dirty work? Who had called the police, conveniently ensuring they’d show up just minutes after I found her? And how had they known I’d returned to my flat that night? I’d gone dark after the MP’s arrest, staying off the radar at the Rominov estate. I’d only just returned to my flat the night before. Who knew I was back?
Could we have another traitor? No, I didn’t think so. So, who else would have known I was back home?
The thought burned through me. Someone had been watching, waiting. They knew I’d be at the party and come back to the flat after. My mind went to building security. Most of the guards had been there for a long time and the company they worked for prided itself on their professionalism and discretion. It’s one of the reasons I bought a flat in this building. In my line of business, and with the amount of women I’d had coming in and out over the years, such concerns were a necessity.
It helped that I was generous and tipped frequently to ensure things remained that way. However, there was one guy who was fairly new. He’d arrived not long before I went in as the MP’s bodyguard. I hadn’t checked him out the way I normally would and hadn’t gained his loyalty yet. A mistake that had likely cost Julie her life.
Thinking about it, he wasn’t even at his post when I got home. Conveniently on a break, or so the police report said, just before the police arrived. And then there was the security footage—wiped out by a sudden system failure. Another coincidence? Too many things lined up too perfectly.
I’d make sure Claire and Miki were looking into the guard, the company, all of it. Marko was likely already on it, but I’d be damned if I didn’t double-check. This wasn’t just about clearing my name. It was about getting justice for Julie.
But for now, I had to sit here, helpless. The hours dragged on, each second adding to the knot of anxiety in my gut. I needed to be doing something, not pacing in a cell, waiting for a system that wasn’t designed to favour men like me.
Finally, the door opened, and they came for me, the heavy silence shattered. As I was led upstairs, my wrists cuffed to the officer beside me, I scanned the room. Claire was there, waiting. Seeing her steadied me, even if just for a moment. She hurried toward me as soon as our eyes met.
“Sorry I couldn’t get in to see you, but I can’t foresee any issue with bail, so we can talk things over after you’re out,” Claire said just before a voice shouted, “All rise!”
Everyone stood as the judge entered.
I had attended court before, watching members of the brotherhood face charges, but this time, I was the accused. It was a new experience—and one I didn’t like at all.
An overwhelming sense of dread washed over me. I was right to feel that way. Less than ten minutes later, I was being escorted back down to the cells, awaiting transport to jail. I hadn’t got bail! Despite Claire’s protests about my clean record, the judge remanded me into custody.
Miki shouted, “We’ll get this sorted!” as I was taken down the stairs.
Claire met me in the interview room a few minutes later. “God, Luca, I can’t believe you got remanded. I’ve never failed to get a client out on bail before with no prior convictions. I don’t understand how they can justify this when that fucking MP is out on bail, accused of numerous crimes!” She shook her head in disbelief.
“It is strange, but I guess someone wanted me locked up,” I told her grimly.
She started pacing, biting her bottom lip. “I didn’t want you to go to jail. You’ve been deliberately set up, and now this! It’s obvious someone is out to get you—likely that MP. But why jail you? Why not just kill you?”
“You know about him?” I asked her, wondering how.
She gave a slight grimace. “Marcie told me about it. And just for the record, I don’t condone you guys dragging my friend into your family business. But she’s a big girl I guess. Anyway, she told me what was going on. Although, it was only after talking to Miki that I discovered where you’ve been all of these weeks.” She glared at me and I smirked.
“Did you miss me, babe?” I waggled my eyebrows at her and grinned.
“No, not in the least,” she stated, huffing and mumbling something like, “infuriating man,” under her breath.
I laughed. “I think you protest too much.”
“And I think you should be taking this more seriously,” she huffed again.
Her pacing stopped, and she faced me, anxiety flashing in her eyes. “What is even the point in setting you up like this?”
“Probably for some warped sense of revenge. After his arrest, I lived at the Estate, ramping up security. When I went out, I was surrounded by people, making it hard to reach me. Friday was the first day I went anywhere alone and the first time I returned to my flat. I guess someone had been following me, waiting for the right moment to strike. And without an alibi for the time of death, it was easy for them to pin this on me.”
“I’m sorry, Luca. If I hadn’t run out on you at the party, you might not be dealing with this right now, and that poor woman might still be alive!” She looked distraught.
Fuck, I hadn’t meant for her to blame herself.
“It’s not your fault, babe,” I said, pulling her into my arms. “The people responsible are the MP and whoever he got to carry out his plan,” I murmured against the top of her head as I hugged her tightly.
“I don’t want you to go to jail, Luca. I’m scared something will happen to you!” She tilted her head up at me, and I wanted to kiss her then, but I held back, unwilling to take advantage of the situation. I wanted Claire to want me for me, not out of guilt.
“Don’t worry about it, Claire. I’ll be fine,” I said, smiling reassuringly.
She nodded, taking a deep breath before stepping back. I tried to ignore the feeling of loss that accompanied her withdrawal and focused on her next words.
“This case has so many holes in it. I’ll help your lawyer, and together we’ll get you out at the pre-trial hearing,” she said, her confidence palpable.
“I know you will, Claire. You’re a great lawyer, I’m sure you’ll blow the case wide open.” I smiled at her, grateful for her support and secretly thrilled at the prospect of spending more time with her, regardless of the circumstances.
I was in the worst position of my life, feeling guilt for Julie’s death. I shouldn’t have felt happy about spending time with Claire, but I couldn’t help it. The desire I had for her overshadowed everything else.
The interview room door opened, and a police officer walked in. “Time to go!”
As they cuffed me and led me away, I glanced back just in time to catch a glimpse of Claire sashaying down the corridor in the opposite direction. I had maybe a second to enjoy the view before they pulled me out the door and shoved me into the waiting prison van.
Jail didn’t bother me—I’d survived worse. What gnawed at me was being denied bail when everyone expected otherwise. For three judges to vote against it, at least two had to have been threatened or bought off. Despite the gravity of the charges, I was a first-time offender and not considered a flight risk. Bail should have been a given.
I’d been set up—that much was clear. But I thought the trial itself would’ve satisfied the MP’s thirst for vengeance. If he just wanted me dead, he could’ve had his man waiting at the flat, ready to end it there. Blocking my bail was something else. A message. A reminder of his reach, of the power he still wielded. He wanted us to know he was pulling the strings—he could get to us anytime, anyway. The MP wasn’t just after blood. He wanted us to suffer first.
Maybe it was also about keeping the remnants of the Broxys and Malia Boys loyal to him. Most of them had survived because they were already locked up during the attacks. And they’d love nothing more than to take out one of their enemies—me.
Whatever his agenda, one thing was clear: I’d have to watch my back. Jail was always dangerous for Bratva. But now? Now it was a death sentence.
And I’d just walked right into it.