EPISODE 05: LIES BETWEEN US
𝓗𝓮 𝓭𝓻𝓪𝓰𝓰𝓮𝓭 𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓱𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱
𝓬𝓻𝓲𝓶𝓼𝓸𝓷 𝓻𝓪𝓲𝓷,
𝓔𝓪𝓬𝓱 𝓴𝓲𝓼𝓼 𝓪 𝓹𝓻𝓸𝓶𝓲𝓼𝓮 𝔀𝓻𝓪𝓹𝓹𝓮𝓭 𝓲𝓷 𝓹𝓪𝓲𝓷.
𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓲𝓷𝓼 𝓸𝓯 𝓼𝓲𝓵𝓴, 𝔂𝓮𝓽 𝓼𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓹 𝓪𝓼 𝓴𝓷𝓲𝓿𝓮𝓼,
𝓣𝓱𝓮𝔂 𝓯𝓮𝓭 𝓸𝓷 𝓵𝓲𝓮𝓼 𝓽𝓸 𝓼𝓽𝓪𝔂 𝓪𝓵𝓲𝓿𝓮.
𝓢𝓱𝓮 𝓫𝓮𝓰𝓰𝓮𝓭 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮,𝓱𝓮 𝓰𝓪𝓿𝓮 𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝔀𝓪𝓻
𝓐𝓷𝓭 𝓼𝓽𝓲𝓵𝓵, 𝓼𝓱𝓮 𝓬𝓻𝓪𝔀𝓵𝓮𝓭 𝓫𝓪𝓬𝓴 𝔀𝓪𝓷𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓶𝓸𝓻𝓮.
In the aftermath of the ambush, Aria is left shaken and Luca more protective than ever. But safety is an illusion inside a house of secrets. As tension builds between them, truths begin to crack the silence—and a betrayal from someone close threatens to tear apart everything they’ve barely begun to trust.
[8:03 PM – SAFEHOUSE, SECLUDED MOUNTAIN CABIN]
Aria Russo (FL)
*Wrapped in a blanket by the fireplace, staring into the flames*
Do you always carry smoke grenades to your romantic ambushes?
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Sitting across from her, nursing a small cut on his brow*
Only when I suspect the bride might try to run.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Scoffs, but her voice trembles slightly*
I didn’t run. I walked straight into that mess.
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Sighs, voice low*
That wasn’t your fault, Aria. Zora’s not just cruel—she’s calculated. You were bait.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Eyes hardening*
So was I supposed to just die in that chapel, so you’d learn a lesson?
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Sharply*
Don’t twist it. I never meant for you to be there alone.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Softly, voice cracking*
But I was.
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Stands, frustrated*
I should’ve seen it coming. She always loved theater, and you were the perfect stage.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Pulls her knees to her chest*
She knew about me. Why would she care?
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Leans against the window frame, jaw clenched*
Because once, I chose her. And then I ruined her.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Eyes narrowing*
So this is about revenge.
Luca Moretti (ML)
No. This is about power. Zora never cared who bled—as long as she got what she wanted.
[8:50 PM – SAFEHOUSE BEDROOM]
Aria Russo (FL)
*Changing into a clean shirt, spotting a bruise on her shoulder*
Every inch of me feels like I’m at war.
She touches her lips. The memory of Luca’s kiss lingers. Gentle. Dangerous. Real.
Aria Russo (FL)
He kissed me like I mattered. And I kissed him back like I forgot everything else.
A soft knock at the door.
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Quietly*
You okay?
Aria Russo (FL)
*Tenses, then opens the door slowly*
Yeah
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Notices the bruise on her shoulder, steps forward without asking*
Let me see that.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Pulls away slightly*
I’m fine.
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Firmly*
You’re not. And you don’t have to be.
He gently places a cool compress on the bruise. Their eyes meet. Silence pulses between them.
Luca Moretti (ML)
You were brave tonight.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Sighs*
You keep saying that like it makes the fear go away.
Luca Moretti (ML)
No. But it makes it worth something.
Their faces are close again. Tension crackling. But Aria pulls back first.
Aria Russo (FL)
I need sleep.
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Nods once, leaving*
I’ll be outside if you need me.
[NEXT DAY – 7:30 AM, MORETTI ESTATE – WAR ROOM]
Marco (ML's right-hand man)
*Slams his fist against the table*
She walked into a trap, Luca. We got lucky.
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Glancing over blueprints*
We got prepared. There’s a difference.
Enzo
*Enters with files*
We traced the comms used by Zora’s men. They’ve infiltrated through Aria’s university.
Marco (ML's right-hand man)
*Snaps*
What?!
Enzo
They’re targeting her past. Friends, professors, anyone they can flip.
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Quiet rage building*
Then it’s time we remind the city why the Moretti name still matters.
[8:00 AM – RAVENPORT UNIVERSITY CAMPUS, ELSEWHERE]
Elena (FL's bestie)
*Checking her phone again, biting her lip*
Where are you, Aria?
Professor Dante
*Approaches cautiously*
You haven’t seen her?
Elena (FL's bestie)
*Shakes her head*
It’s been days. And now people are asking questions.
Professor Dante
*Leans in*
A man came by yesterday. Said he was her cousin. Asked about her art studio.
Elena (FL's bestie)
*Eyes widening*
She doesn’t have a cousin.
[10:13 AM – SAFEHOUSE, KITCHEN]
Aria Russo (FL)
*Pouring tea, still groggy*
Where are we?
Luca Moretti (ML)
*In black long sleeves, tension written across his face*
A mountain cabin I used to train in. No one knows it but me, Marco, and now you.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Sits, pulling the mug close*
Zora said you ruined her. What did she mean?
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Sits across from her*
We were partners once. Lovers, in the early days. I thought she wanted peace. She only wanted the crown.
Aria Russo (FL)
And you ended it?
Luca Moretti (ML)
I let her walk. And she took lives on her way out.
Aria Russo (FL)
So now she wants to burn everything you built.
Luca Moretti (ML)
Including you.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Smirks faintly*
She’ll need a sharper knife.
[NOON – PRIVATE SHOOTING RANGE, BEHIND CABIN]
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Hands her a Glock*
Aim. Breathe. Fire.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Arms trembling, she pulls the trigger—misses the mark*
I suck at this.
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Adjusts her stance, his arms brushing hers from behind*
Lower your elbow. Trust your grip.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Sighs, distracted by his closeness*
You're really close.
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Smirking*
You’re really dangerous with a gun. I’m being responsible.
She fires again. Bullseye. She gasps.
Aria Russo (FL)
Holy hell.
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Quiet pride in his voice*
You’re getting there.
Their eyes lock again. The tension lingers, unspoken.
[2:44 PM – INSIDE THE CABIN]
Marco (ML's right-hand man)
*On call* Boss, we found something.
Luca Moretti (ML)
What is it?
Marco (ML's right-hand man)
Someone leaked our safehouse location.
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Voice darkens*
Who?
Marco (ML's right-hand man)
We traced it to a burner. But it was connected through the estate.
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Eyes narrowing*
Someone close.
He turns toward Aria, who's at the window with headphones on. Doubt flickers in his expression. Then he shakes it off.
[3:10 PM – CABIN HALLWAY]
Luca Moretti (ML)
I want to trust her. God help me, I’m starting to need her. But if she’s the leak... I’ll have to choose the empire again.
[3:47 PM – CABIN LIVING ROOM]
Aria Russo (FL)
*Notices Luca watching her, crosses arms*
Something wrong?
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Pauses, then shakes his head*
Nothing we can’t handle.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Narrows eyes, not convinced*
I didn’t send anyone your location, if that’s what you’re thinking.
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Flatly*
I didn’t say that.
Aria Russo (FL)
You didn’t have to.
Luca Moretti (ML)
We’ll figure it out. Together.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Sarcastic*
Right. Because we’re such a team.
[5:20 PM – UNKNOWN LOCATION – ZORA’S LAIR]
Zora (Villainess)
*Watching surveillance feeds*
They’re getting close. Too close.
Unknown
Then pull the trigger.
Zora (Villainess)
Not yet. Let them rot in the truth first.
She clicks to another screen. A hidden camera inside the Moretti estate flickers to life. Someone familiar appears—Enzo.
Zora (Villainess)
*Smiling* And there’s my little mole.
[6:45 PM – CABIN BALCONY]
Aria Russo (FL)
*Leans against the rail, watching dusk settle over the trees*
Do you ever miss being normal?
Luca Moretti (ML)
*Standing beside her, quiet*
Every day. But normal never lasted for me.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Softly*
I wanted art. Galleries. Not guns and shadows.
Luca Moretti (ML)
You still can. When this is over.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Turns to face him*
If it’s ever over.
He reaches out, brushing silver hair from her cheek. Their breath mingles.
Luca Moretti (ML)
You make me want to believe it could be.
Their lips meet again—slow, aching, magnetic. Not out of desperation this time. Out of choice.
Aria Russo (FL)
*Pulls back slightly*
I don’t know what we are.
Luca Moretti (ML)
Neither do I. But I know what I want us to be.
[INSIDE THE ESTATE, NIGHT]
Enzo
*Sneaks into the encrypted server room, plugging in a data drive*
He pulls out his phone. Types:
> Upload complete.
>Phase 2 begins.
The screen goes dark
Merin
Like, comment, subscribe, share and give votes and gifts. Love y'all. 💗💫
Comments