Silent Scars

CHAPTER 24

Luca stepped into the dining room, his gaze instantly drawn to Leonardo and Domain locked in yet another heated argument. Their voices were sharp, frustration cutting through the air like a blade. 

“You think this is the way to handle things?”

Leonardo’s voice was low but dangerous, his composure teetering on the edge. 

Domain crossed his arms, glaring back. 

“And what would you have me do, Leo? Pretend everything’s fine when it clearly isn’t?” 

“That doesn’t excuse what you did last night!”

Leonardo snapped, his tone rising with anger. 

“She’s not a porcelain doll.”

Domain shot back, his voice laced with fury.

“If she can’t even handle that...” 

“Enough!”

Luca’s voice cut through the tension, his usually calm demeanor edged with steel. Both brothers turned toward him, their argument momentarily halted. 

Luca placed the first-aid kit on the counter, meeting Domain’s glare with an unwavering gaze. 

“If you’re so convinced she’s fine, maybe you should take a second to notice, she’s not.”

He said, his voice firm and filled with quiet frustration. 

Domain’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing. 

Leonardo’s eyes flicked to the kit, his brows furrowing. 

“What’s that for?” 

Luca hesitated, glancing between his brothers. 

“She’s hurt.”

He said finally, his voice quieter now.

“Burns on her arms. They were healing, but they’ve been irritated again.” 

The room fell silent. Leonardo’s expression darkened, the weight of Luca’s words sinking in. Domain shifted uncomfortably, the tension in his stance softening slightly. 

“And she didn’t say anything?”

Leonardo asked, his voice subdued. 

Luca shook his head.

“She wouldn’t. I had to see for myself.” 

Leonardo pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling sharply.

“I’ll handle this.” He muttered. 

“No.”

Luca interjected, his voice steady and unwavering.

“She doesn’t need handling. She needs someone to care, to actually notice what’s going on with her instead of making assumptions.” 

The words hung in the air, heavy and unrelenting. For once, Domain didn’t argue, his posture stiff but silent. 

But then, as if breaking under the weight of the tension, Domain snapped. 

“She’s a stranger, Leo!”

He said, slamming his hand on the table.

“A random girl claiming to be our sister! And you’re taking her word for it?” 

Leonardo’s jaw tightened, his grip on his coffee cup visibly tensing.

“You think I trust her blindly? But you don’t grab someone like that, especially her!”

His voice dropped, low and dangerous. 

“You shouldn’t have manhandled her. She was shivering under your hold, Domain. You were hurting her! What the hell were you thinking?” 

Before Domain could respond, Luca stepped forward, his calm demeanor fracturing as Leonardo’s words sank in. 

“You hurt her?”

Luca’s voice was sharp, trembling with restrained anger, a stark contrast to his usual gentleness. 

Domain turned, startled, as Luca strode toward him. Without hesitation, Luca grabbed Domain by the collar, yanking him to his feet. The room seemed to freeze. 

“Did you hurt her?”

Luca demanded again, his voice low but seething. His eyes, usually warm and kind, burned with fury. 

Domain’s mouth opened and closed, searching for words, but Luca wasn’t done. 

“She was healing...”

Luca hissed, his voice tight with restrained rage.

“I thought maybe she scratched it by accident, but it was your grip, wasn’t it? You made it worse.” 

Domain flinched, his defiance faltering under Luca’s intense glare. 

“Luca, let him go.”

Marcus intervened, stepping between them and prying Luca’s hands off Domain’s collar. 

Luca didn’t resist, but his glare never wavered.

“Don’t touch her again.”

He said firmly, his words a warning that lingered in the air. 

Leonardo sat back, observing the scene with a mix of surprise and understanding. 

Without another word, Luca grabbed the first-aid kit and left the room, his footsteps heavy with purpose. 

Reaching Ariana’s door, he knocked softly, his anger melting into worry. 

“It’s Luca.”

He said, his voice gentle.

“I’m coming in.”