My Family Used Me to Settle Their Debt—I Never Expected the Mafia Boss to Open His Arms
Chapter 8
They moved Elena to one of Luca’s safest properties.
It was a secluded house in the countryside.
No cameras outside.
No obvious security.
No one knew the address.
For the first time since entering the Delacroix world, Elena could breathe.
But her father was still missing.
And Victor still had the ledger’s counterpart.
Elena sat by the window.
Luca entered with food.
“You need to eat.”
“I can’t.”
“You can.”
She looked at him.
“Why are you being kind to me?”
He sat across from her.
“Because you’re here.”
“That’s not an answer.”
He thought.
“Because I know what it’s like to be used.”
Elena looked surprised.
“My father used you?”
“Everyone did.”
He told her about growing up under his father’s control.
Every decision had been calculated.
Who he married.
Who he trusted.
Who he threatened.
Who he protected.
When Luca resisted, his father threatened the people he loved.
So Luca became colder.
More dangerous.
Until his father died.
Luca took over.
And promised himself he would never use innocent people the same way.
Elena looked at him.
“That’s why you refused the debt.”
“Yes.”
“You could have taken me.”
“Yes.”
“But you didn’t.”
“No.”
She smiled sadly.
“You really are different.”
“I’ve done terrible things.”
“I know.”
“You should be afraid.”
“I was.”
“And now?”
She looked at him.
“Not of you.”
Silence.
Luca’s eyes softened.
Then his phone rang.
Rafael.
“We found Elena’s father.”
“Where?”
“Old chapel.”
Luca stood.
“We go now.”
Elena followed.
The chapel was empty.
Her father was tied to a chair.
Alive.
Barely conscious.
Luca cut the ropes.
Elena ran to him.
“Dad.”
He opened his eyes.
“I’m sorry.”
She hugged him.
“You’re alive.”
Her father cried.
“Victor took the ledger.”
Luca asked:
“Where?”
“He doesn’t need it anymore.”
“Why?”
“He found the original trust.”
Luca froze.
“Where?”
Her father looked at Elena.
“Inside her.”
Silence.
Elena stepped back.
“What does that mean?”
Her father explained.
The trust wasn’t controlled by signatures.
It was controlled by a biometric inheritance clause.
A small implant had been placed under Elena’s skin when she was five.
The surgical scar on her shoulder.
The genetic and biometric key was inside her.
Victor didn’t need her signature.
He needed her alive.
Luca stared.
“That sounds insane.”
“It is legal.”
Elena touched her scar.
“Who did this?”
“Your mother.”
“She agreed?”
“She had no choice.”
Her father explained that the trust’s founder feared Victor would kill the heir.
So the key was embedded in Elena and linked to her blood.
Elena looked sick.
“I’ve been carrying a vault inside me.”
Her father nodded.
“That’s why Victor wanted you.”
Luca crouched beside her.
“Listen to me.”
She looked at him.
“You are not a key.”
“But—”
“You’re a person.”
Her eyes filled.
“I don’t want to be anyone’s prize.”
“You aren’t.”
He took her hand.
“You choose what happens next.”
Her father looked at them.
Then whispered:
“There is one more thing.”
“What?”
“The trust can only be opened by two people.”
Luca frowned.
“Who?”
“An heir.”
He looked at Elena.
“And the Delacroix protector.”
Silence.
Luca stared.
“Me?”
Her father nodded.
“Your grandfather designed it that way.”
Elena looked at Luca.
“So they planned for us to meet.”
“No.”
Her father shook his head.
“Not them.”
He looked at Elena.
“Your mother.”
Elena’s eyes filled with tears.
“She knew you would protect her.”
