Valentina's POV

I rubbed my eyes, exhaustion threatening to overwhelm me as I stared at the paperwork on my desk. It had been three days since I'd saved Luca Moretti's life, and I still couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled in my stomach.

A knock on my office door startled me. "Come in," I called, grateful for the distraction.

Dr. Sanders, the hospital administrator, entered his face grave. "Dr. Rossi, we must discuss your patient in room 305."

I knew immediately he meant Luca. "What about him?"

"The police have been asking questions. They want to interview him as soon as he's stable."

I nodded, unsurprised. "He's improving quickly, but he's not ready for that kind of stress yet."

Dr. Sanders sighed. "Valentina, I know you take patient confidentiality seriously, but this is Luca Moretti we're talking about. The things he's done..."

"I'm well aware of who he is," I interrupted, a hint of anger in my voice. "But in this hospital, he's just like another patient. My job is to heal, not to judge."

"Your dedication is admirable, but it might be misplaced in this instance," he warned. "Be careful, Valentina. Men like Moretti have a way of dragging good people down with them."

After he left, I sat back in my chair, his words echoing in my mind. Was I being naive?

I shook my head, pushing the doubts aside. I had a job to do, regardless of who my patient was.

Making my rounds, I saved Luca's room for last. As I entered, I found him awake, his piercing gaze following my every move.

"Dr. Rossi," he greeted, his voice stronger than it had been just days ago. "I was hoping you'd stop by."

I checked his vitals, trying to maintain a professional demeanor. "Your recovery is progressing well, Mr. Moretti. How's your pain level today?"

He caught my wrist as I adjusted his IV, his touch sending an unexpected jolt through me. "Please, call me Luca. And I think we both know I've endured worse pain than this."

I gently extracted my hand from his grip. "Mr. Moretti, I—"

"I have a proposition for you, Valentina," he interrupted, his eyes intense. "I want you to be my physician."

I blinked, caught off guard. "That's... flattering, but I'm needed here at the hospital."

A knowing smile played on his lips. "I'm aware of the funding issues your clinic is facing. What if I told you I could solve that problem?"

My heart raced. How did he know about my clinic?

"Are you offering to buy my services, Mr. Moretti?" I asked, raising my eyebrows, starting to get suspicious of his motives

"I'm offering you a chance to help more people than you ever could here," he said softly. "Think about it. No more worrying about budget cuts or lack of supplies. You could focus on what you do best – saving lives."

I stood frozen, torn between my ethical concerns and the possibility of finally having the resources to make a difference truly. Something I have been dreaming of doing ever since I was a little girl, watching my dad care for people every day of his life, being a police officer. Right before that very job took his life away from him, I shook my head, stopping my thoughts from going further into the past.

"I... I need time to think about this."

Luca nodded, seemingly satisfied. "Of course. But don't take too long, Valentina. Opportunities like this don't come around often."

My mind was a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts and emotions as I left his room. What had I gotten myself into?

Luca's POV

I watched Valentina leave, admiring how she moved even when flustered. My offer had shaken her, just as I'd intended. But I saw the flash of interest in her eyes – she was tempted despite her reservations.

Shifting in the uncomfortable hospital bed, I winced as pain shot through my chest. I was healing, but not fast enough for my liking. There was too much at stake, too many enemies waiting for a sign of weakness from me.

My right-hand man, Marco, slipped into the room when Valentina was out of sight. "Boss, we've got problems. The Colombo family is making moves on our territory. They think you're out of commission."

I cursed under my breath. "They're about to learn how wrong they are. Get our people ready. As soon as I'm out of here, we send a message they won't forget."

Marco nodded but hesitated. "And what about the doctor? She's a liability, boss. She knows too much. We gotta get rid of her."

My eyes narrowed dangerously. Daring him to continue speaking. "Valentina is off-limits. Anyone who touches her answers to me personally. Understood?"

"Yes, boss," Marco replied, though I could see the confusion in his eyes.

He didn't understand my fascination with the doctor, and truthfully, neither did I. All I knew was that she had brought something in me I thought had been long gone ever since my wife. There is no point in dwelling on the past.

After Marco left, I lay back, my mind racing. I needed to leave this hospital and regain control over my empire. But more than that, I needed Valentina by my side, not just for her medical skills, though those were undoubtedly valuable. No, I needed her light and goodness to balance out the darkness that had consumed my life for so long.

I closed my eyes, picturing her face – those expressive brown eyes, the soft curve of her lips, the strength and compassion that radiated from her very being. She was everything I wasn't, everything I could never be. And yet, for the first time in years, I found myself wanting to be better and worthy of her.

A plan began to form in my mind. I would win her over and show her there was more to me than the ruthless don she'd heard about. In doing so, maybe I could find a way to redeem myself and build a life about more than just power and violence.

As I drifted off to sleep, my last thoughts were of Valentina. One way or another, I would make her mine. And God help anyone who tried to stand in my way.